/ 



^.^. 



u 



/ . 










THE 



Slaveholder Abeoad; 



OR, 



BILLY BUCK'S VISIT, WITH HIS MASTER, TO ENGLAND. 



txit^ fl! 'St\Ux% 



FROM 



DR. PLEASANT JONES TO MAJOR JOSEPH JONES, 

OF GEORGIA. 



"WITH WHAT MKASURK YK METE, IT 8IIAIX BE MEASURED TO YOO AOAIJf." 



PHILADELPHIA; 
J . B . L I P P I N C T T & CO. 

rsGo. 










Eutered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860. by 
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District 
^ of Pennsylvania. 



AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT 



TO 



%\t Slem0r3| 



OF 

COLONEL JOSEPH BOND, 

WHO, 

BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST SLAVEHOLDERS IN GEORGIA, 

AND 

AMONG HER MOST WORTHY AND SUCCESSFUL PLANTERS, 

YET HAZARDED AND LOST HIS LIFE 

IN THE PROTECTION OF HIS SLAVE, 

BY 

ONE WHO WAS TO HIM PERSONALLY A STRANGER, 

2ri)f» aSooIt IS ?J9elifcateti. 



(iu) 



PREFACE. 



The author of the following letters wishes it to be dis- 
tinctly apprehended by the reader, that, as regards the 
personality of Dr. Jones and his servant, or their per- 
sonal adventures and experience, as related in the follow- 
ing pages, he does not desire it to be understood or be- 
lieved that he sets up any pretensions to the accuracy 
of narrative. He acknowledges that he has used these 
only as a stock upon which to engraft some fruit-bearing 
facts; and that he has assumed to himself a license in 
these particulars, in order that he might render the 
statements of fact which he has made, more attractive 
to general readers. 

Let it be understood, then, once for all, that it is no 
part of the author's design that any credit should be 
given to the class of circumstances specified, as influ- 
encing the conclusions which he is anxious to have derived 
from the matter contained in these letters ; and that 
(with one exception, which will be presently mentioned) 
the only statements which may be thought to affect the 
character of individuals, or of the British people, that he 
1 * ( V ) 



Vi PREFACE. 

would have received as credible evidence, are siicli as lie 
has taken from some report made by authority, which, 
for the purposes he has in view, must be regarded as 
reliable : viz., an English book, periodical, or newspaper. 
The statements as to salaries, pensions, etc., of English 
officials, in the last letter but one, must be referred to as 
an exception. But these are facts which are so notorious, 
and which may be so easily verified by reference to the 
items of the English Civil List, that it was deemed un- 
necessary to be more particular. I will add that the 
author has indeed endeavored to give his authority for 
all the material facts stated (excepting those which have 
been referred to), both in the body of the work and in 
the Appendix. 



CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
From Dr. Pleasant Jones to William T. Thompson, Esq 13 

LETTER L 

Arrival in London — Buck visits the Crystal Palace — Ilis description of it 23 

LETTER IL 
Dr. Jones visits and describes the Great Exhibition 26 

LETTER in. 

Buck's greeting of the Queen and Pioyal Family — Interview with an English Gentleman 
— Conversation as to j<lavery 32 

LETTER IV. 

Anecdote of Dr. Jackson and the Georgian in London, whose Indians wouldn't show — 
Dr. Jones's Plough a failure in England, because he did not carry his Roots with him 
— A Frenchman's opinion of America — Anecdote of Captain Black —The Doctor con- 
soles himself for his failure with a Scrap from the Tragedy of " Tom Thumb." 37 

LETTER V. 
Dr. Jones and his Man visit A Hall, in Yorkshire 41 

LETTER VI. 

Dr. Jones and his Servant join a Fox-hunt — Buck distinguishes himself on the Field — 
Is in at the Deacb, and wins the Tail — Visit to C. Park — Kecipe for cooking " Possum 

and Pumpkin" — Buck's Story of Uncle Cudjo and the Possum 54 

(Vii) 



Viii . CONTENTS. 



LETTER VII. 

British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, and Mrs. Stowe — Speeches at the meeting of 
this Society, by Prof. Stowe, and Rev. S. Ward (a Negro), and Comments of Buck there- 
upon — Buck amuses himself with a part of the Audience 62 



LETTER VIII. 

Social Profligacy of the British People — St. Albans Election — St. Albans Bribery Com- 
mission 71 



LETTER IX. 

Proceedings of the Bribery Commission for St. Albans continued — Controverted Elections 
inlSoi 83 



LETTER X. 

Buck attends the Southampton Election — His Report of it— His Story of his Grandfather 
and his old Master — Endeavoi's to comfort an emancipated Slave 92 



LETTER XL 

Fpecimens of various Election Bribery Commissions 101 

LETTER XIL 

Passion of the English People for Betting and Horse-racing — Queen's Visits to the Race- 
field — Queen's Plates — Doncaster Races — The Marquis of Exeter's, and Duke of Graf- 
ton's "Winnings" 119 

^ LETTER XIIL 

Passion of the English People for Betting and Horse-racing — The House of Commons 
adjourns for the Derby Day — Races at Goodwood, and at Epsom — Extraordinary Wa- 
gers — Mr. Cobden plays the part of Wilkins Flasher, Esq., and Gen. Brotherton emu- 
lates that of Mr. Frank Simmery— Trial of a celebrated Turf-man for Forgery — Suicides 
by Patrons of the Turf 126 

LETTER XIV. 

Want of Education among the Masses in this Country — The state of Crime in the United 
Kingdom — Number of Offences committed by Women and Children — Numbers of 
Women of the Town, and Illegitimate Children 1-16 

LETTER XV. 

Social Profligacy continued — Court of Exchequer — Tees vs. Avis — Extraordinary In- 
stance of Profligacy and Depraved Taste — Mahomet Abraham (a Black Beggar) and 
Eliza- ; a horrible piece of London Romance— Profligacy in London loO 



CONTENTS. IX 



LETTER XVI. 

Social Profligacy in Liverpool, and Manchester, and their Ticinity — Annual Report of the 
Chaplain of Eirkdale Jail 159 



LETTER XVIL 

Social Profligacy — Abandonment of an Infant by its Mother — Horrible Beprayity— Social 
Profligacy in Scotland 163 



LETTER XVIIL 

Social Profligacy — The late Lord Portarlington and Mrs. Dawson — Mormonism in the 
United Kingdom— The Agapemone, or Abode of Love 170 



LETTER XIX. 

Juvenile Depravity in this Country — Murder by a Boy of Thirteen of another Eleven 
Years and a half old— Charge of Swiudling against a little Girl, Thirteen Years of age 
— Singular Delinquency of a Boy — Charge of Stealing against a Boy aged Ten, an 
old Offender — A Youthful and Aristocratic Highwayman — A Candidate for Transporta- 
tion, aged Fourteen — Murder by a Boy less than Ten Years old — A Youth left for Exe- 
cution 178 



LETTER XX. 

Brutality and Cruelty of the British People — A High Sheriff in Difficulty, or a Hangman 
wanted— The Chelmsford Executions 193 



LETTER XXI. 
Murder at Helper, in Derbyshire— Proceedings at the Inquest 202 

LETTER XXIL 

Dreadful Murder at Frome, Somerset — Violation and Murder — Shocking Murder near 
Lincoln— A Brother Killed by his Sister— Supposed Murder at Barnsley— Poisoning — 
A Woman's Head cut off by her Son 207 

LETTER XXIIL 
Alleged Murder of a Gentleman by his Housekeeper 217 

LETTER XXIV. 

Murder on the Highway in Essex— Inquest on the Body— Confession of the Murderer- 
Dreadful Murder in Devonshire— Atrocious Murder at Wakefield 226 



CONTENTS. 



LETTER XXV. 

Ill-treatment and Murder of Wives — Suspected Murder of a Wife by Starvation — The 
Bath Starvation Case — Murder of a Wife in Marylebone— The Proceedings before the 
Committing Magistrate are attended by Dr. Jones and his Servant — A Witness who 
knew nothing of God, and had never heard of the Devil — Buck proposes to send a 
Missionary to this Witness' Neighborhood — Trial of the Murderer before the Central 
Criminal Court - 234 

LETTER XXVL 

Murder of a Woman by her Husband in the City of Oxford — Attempted Murder of a 
Wife, and Suicide of Husband, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne— Horrible Murder of a Wife by 
the Husband in the City of London — Execution of the Murderer, and remarkable 
Declaration made by him— Death of a Wife from brutal Ill-treatment— Brutal Murder 
Of a Wife '. •••• 249 

LETTER XXVII. 

Murder of a Wife, and attempted Suicide of the Husband — Buck's Indignation thereat, 
and Criticisms thereon 263 

LETTER XXVIIL 

Murder of their Husbands by Maria Cage, and Sarah Chesham — Fortune-telling and 
Poisoning — A Wife Poisons her Husband in Sussex — Dr. Jones and Buck attend the 
Trial, and find that Sauce for the English Goose is not always Sauce for the 
Gander ." 267 

LETTER XXIX. 

Brutal Treatment of their wives by Englishmen— Malicious Stabbing of a Wife— Savage 
and Inhuman Conduct to a Wife by her Husband — Attempted Murder of a Wife, and 
attempted Suicide of the Husband — Ill-treatment of a Wife, and her refusal to Prose- 
cute — Wife-beating, and Wife refusing to Prosecute — Threatening to Murder a 
Wife 276 

LETTER XXX. 

Barbarous and shocking Ill-treatment of Women in England — New Christmas Sports, 
•where the Noses of Women, only, get smashed, and their Eyes knocked out — Atrocious 
Outrage upon a Woman— A young Girl Outraged— A Woman Shot by her Lover— Buck 
finds the diflaculty of understanding "the ways" of Englishmen increasing — A Lon- 
don Magistrate certifies to the chivalric treatment of Women by Americans 285 

LETTER XXXI. 

Bill passed by Parliament for the better Protection of Women and Children— Lord Gran- 
ville's Jest upon the subject— The White Slave inEngland— Illustrations of Earl Gran- 
ville's Jest — Price of Insulting and Assaulting a Lady — A Pugilist brutally Beats 
several young Women — Savage Assault upon a Woman — Attempt to Strangle a Woman 
— An Editor discourses on Cruelty to Women 294 



CONTENTS. XI 



LETTER XXXII. 

Cruel Treatment of Children in this Country — Charge of administering Gin to a Child 
of Seven Years — Mysterious Murder of a Boy near Plymouth — A Woman throws her 
Son, aged Six Years, from a third-floor Window — Buck's History of this Transaction — 
He is solicited to leave his Master — Refuses, and sets forth some of the Advantages of 
Slavery in Georgia over Poverty in England 306 

LETTER XXXIIL 

Two Children Murdered hy their Father at Camberwell — Murder of a Child by its Mo- 
ther, and Death of the latter — Horrible Murder of two Children by their Mother at 
Loughrea — Murder of an Infant by its Step-father — Ill-treatment of a Child by ita 
Father (a Clergyman) and his Sister, resulting in its Death — Murder of an Infant in 
the Neighborhood of the BagDiff<r(i-wells Road — Buck Discourses on that Text 317 



LETTER XXIV. 

Charge against a Farmer, of Murder, by throwing a Child to be devoured by a Sow — 
Cruelty to a Child three years old — Murder of a Child — Fatal Cruelty to a Child, by 
Burning it in the Hand with a Live Coal — Murder of Children for Burial-fees — Murder 
of a Child by Starvation, and Ill-treatment by Father and Step-mother — Cruel Treat- 
ment of a Child by its Mother — Child-torture, by way of Christmas Sports 325 



LETTER XXXV. 

Cruel Treatment of Servants by the English People — Charge of atrocious Cruelty to a 
Servant by Mr. and Mrs. Sloane 338 



LETTER XXXVL 

Cruelty to a " Small Servant;" or, the " Marchioness" duplicated — Quere : Have Samp- 
son and Sally Brass transferred their Abode to Great Carter Lane, Doctor's Commons? 
— Buck attends an Investigation, in which it is suggested that Mr. Richard Swiveller 
may have been interested — He (Buck) Discourses with a benevolent Englishman upon 
the Advantages of the relation of Master and Slave in Georgia over that of Master 
and Servant in England 348 

LETTER XXXVII. 

Murder of a Servant by her Master, at Thrandeston— Assault by a Military Officer on his 
Female Servant — A First-class Hand in a First-rate Milliner's 359 



LETTER XXXVIIL 

Cruel Treatment of Lunatics, etc., and of Prisoners, by the British People — Death at 
Peckham Lunatic Asylum — A Witness against Bethlehem Lunatic Hospital — Dreadful 
Abuses in that Hospital, and Brutal Treatment of Lunatics there — Similar Conduc"; at 
Dunston Asylum — The Birmingham Jail Disclosures — Alleged Ill-treatment of the 
Poor in a Workhouse 3C9 



XU CONTENTS. 



LETTER XXXIX. 

What is the Social Ilappinesj! of the British People?— The Paupers and the Beggars help 
to luruish au Answer 384 



LETTER XL. 

The Inquiry into the happiness of the British People, as a Nation, continued — Stealing 
caused by distress— Increase of Vagrancy iu the Metropolis — Street Begging — The 
Leicester Square Soup Icitchen and Hospice — The very Poor of the Metropolis— Deaths 
from Starvation — The hungry Children in the Ragged Schools — Pauperism and Va- 
grancy' — More of the Leicester Square Soup-kitchen — Children Dying for want of 
Breast-millv — Another Death from Starviition — The common Lodgiug-bouses in St. 
Giles — Attempt of two Maiden Ladies to commit Suicide by Starvation, on account of 
their Destitution 391 



LETTER XLI. 

Distress and Destitution in the Agricultural Districts of England — Adventure of Dr. 
Jones and his Servant on the lload from London to Gravesend; in which Buck emu- 
lates the Character of the Good Samaritan 407 



LETTER XLII. 

Buck witnesses a Mectin^vbetween St. James, and St. Giles, in which the latter, as usual, 
is made to take the Kennel — Extent of Destitution in the Metropolis and its Vicinity 
— Death from Starvation, and shocking Destitution — Another Death from Destitution 
— Distressing Picture of Degradation and Destitution 413 



LETTER XLIIL 

Unhappy Mental and Moral Condition of a large Proportion of the British People, as 
shown by various Facts, especially by the number of Lunatics and Insane Persons, 
and of Suicides 423 



LETTER XLIV. 

Causes of the Suffering among the British People considered, in a Conversation between 
Dr. Jones and an English Nobleman 441 



LETTER XLV. 

Continuation of the Conversation between Dr. Jones and an English Nobleman — "Let 
us hear the Conclusion of the whole matter." 453 



Appendix 466 



THE 



SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD 



INTEODUCTORY LETTER. 

FROM DR. PLEASANT JONES TO WILLIAM T. THOMPSON, ESQ. 

Cotton Cot (near Pineville), May 1st, 185D. 

Dear Mr. Thompson: — I yield to your suggestion, 
and consent that my letters from England to Major 
Joseph Jones shall be published. I do so, relying very 
much upon your judgment; for I am not conscious that 
I possess any special gift in the book-making line. In- 
deed, I had supposed that there was enough of that sort 
of thing in the family when my cousin, the Major, took 
to the business. Not that I wish to be understood as 
intending to utter a word in disparagement of the Major's 
books, Mr. Thompson ; for I must confess that they have 
exhibited one of the most satisfactory tests of success — 
they have put, and are continuing to put, money into the 
pockets of their publishers. It cannot be denied, there- 
fore, that there is something more of interest about the 
Major's literature than the grotesque infelicities of its 
orthography and syntax, hideously fascinating as these 
sometimes are. This feature, however, was intended, 
I suppose, only as a sort of bush to the wine that was 
within. Mr. Titmarsh Thackeray, nearly about the same 
time, I believe, was finding a similar expedient quite suc- 
cessful in attracting attention to the entertainments of 
the admirable Mr. Charles Edward Fitzroy Yellowplush. 
2 (13) 



14 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Still; I could not but feel that possibly there was some 
luck in the Major's success, and that, proceeding upon 
a calculation of the doctrine of chances. Fortune may 
have exhausted her favors in this line for the family. 
You seem to think otherwise. I am persuaded to submit, 
therefore, and so I consent to the publication of such of 
my letters as may be selected for that purpose. Some 
explanation, as to the how and wherefore of their being 
written, should precede them, I think ; and this I will 
proceed to give. 

I have had no higher ambition during my life, as you 
know, than to be a successful planter. It is true that, 
after coming to man's, estate, I studied medicine, took 
a course of lectures, and graduated as M. D. But I pre- 
ferred the occupation of a planter to the practice of my 
profession ; and, marrying early in life the girl of my 
heart, I settled down upon my little patrimony, near 
Pineville, and devoted myself to agriculture. In this 
pursuit I have thriven as Avell as could be expected, and 
have cause to be very grateful. Several promising chil- 
dren have been born to us, all but one of whom tarried 
but a little while, when a Hand came out of the darkness 
and hurried them away. After some years, constant 
occupation, cares, and the loss of these little ones, so 
tried my health as very much to impair it. As it was 
with poor old Tobit in the times of the Apocrypha, and 
as it has been with thousands since, in all ages of the 
world, ^' I went to the physicians, but they helped me 
not." They advised me, however, to travel — to try a 
trip to Europe. The World's Fair, then in contempla- 
tion, and in process of preparation in London, was excit- 
ing an interest even among our piney-woods. I had just 
invented a new plough, having an attachment for cutting 
roots, which I thought merited a premium ; and, as I had 
acquired a taste for premiums and silver cups at our own 
State Fair, through the aid of some fat calves and fatter 
pigs, I yielded to these suggestions, and determined to 
visit Europe for the benefit of my health and the grati- 
fication of bringing back Avith me a gold medal for a 
prize plough. 

What to do for some one to go along with, and take 



BTLLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 15 

care of me, in case of increasing illness, was my greatest 
difficulty. Circumstances made it impossible for my wife 
to leave home. My cousins, and your old friends, Maj. 
Joseph Jones and I)r. Peter, were both in the same situ- 
ation. The former, indeed, said that nothing would 
please him better than to go abroad, and perhaps write 
a book about what he saw there : " but it was impossible ; 
for at the first mention of the thing, dear Mary had 
taken on so, as almost to break her heart — she had 
been always so afraid of the sea, since the President 
wasn't heard of." Noav the truth was, as I afterwards 
learned, that to this appeal, after the manner of the 
melting mood, ''dear Mary" added more decidedly, that 
''it wasn't just to her, for him to go trapesing off to 
England, and leaving her with a house full of children, 
to take care of; to say nothing of the everlasting little 
negroes, and that he couldn't do it with her consent — that 
was/a^." And so she put her foot down upon it, and it 
was flat. 

This difficulty presented a serious obstacle for a time, 
but was finally overcome by the suggestion of my wife, 
that I had better take Buck (my most trusted and 
efficient servant) with me. " The truth is," said she, 
" that next to myself and Sally [Buck's wife] " I had 
rather trust you in his hands, than in those of any one 
else." I thought the idea a good one, especially as Buck 
knew better than any one else how to operate my plough, 
how to give it that sort of a twisting jerk — a ivire-dire 
he called it — which best served to snap the roots asunder. 
It was therefore arranged that Buck and I should voyage 
together. 

After resolution formed, our preparations were soon 
made, and we embarked for England, from the port of 
New York, in the summer of the year 1851. As the ser- 
vant, who accompanied me, figures frequently in the 
letters, whose publication you recommend, I will tell you 
something more about him. His true name is Wil- 
liam; but in upper Georgia, for some reason which I 
never understood, William is frequently changed into the 
soubriquet, Buck. It is by this convenient monosyUable 
my servant is generally called. He is my confidential 



16 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

servant — a negro of the negroes — born my father's 
property : his father and grandfather before him having 
been owned by the family. He is slightly older than 
myself, but was my playmate in childhood; when he 
was almost indispensable to my happiness — though he 
occasionally administered a threshing to me. On one 
of these occasions I informed my father of it. He in- 
quired into the circumstances, found that I had been 
to blame in the quarrel, and decided, that it was wrong 
in Buck to strike me, and he must not do it again; but 
that I had deserved all that I had got. After that, when I 
caught it too heavily from him, I made report only to his 
mother, ^'Aunt Becky;" who occasionally gave him 
"brinjer," as she called it, when he was too hard on me. 
But the luxury of licking me he reserved to himself 
alone among the boys. If any others undertook the 
same thing, he pitched into them without delay. He 
has been always sincerely attached to me, I believe, and 
to my family. And for the matter of that, his regard is 
reciprocated. He has been loved by my little ones, too ; 
has guarded and protected them, and has wept over their 
beds of death. Thoroughly identified with my interests, 
he has felt himself about as much the proprietor of me 
and my estate as I was of him. In fact, neither he nor 
any others of my slaves seem to feel that I have any ex- 
clusive right to what property. I possess ; for they speak 
of it only as '^ ours ;" as, indeed, it is, for most of the 
substantial comforts of life. I wish, truly, that they 
could share its cares and responsibilities with me some- 
times, and shift the burthen of some of their own crea- 
tion from my shoulders to theirs. Buck is decidedly 
'' smart," as we say in Georgia, and, for a negro, has 
not a little vanity ; and, though not brought up regularly 
to house-work, he is very handy. Like most of his race, 
he is amiable and cheerful, and has an unusual talent 
for drollery and practical fun — perhaps by habit acquir- 
ing some of that from his master's family, and Georgians 
generally. He speaks our language as well as many 
whites, except when he chooses to do otherwise. "When 
possessed of some droll conceit, or desirous of making 
some " divarsion," as he calls it, he frequently resorts to a 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 17 

sort of African j)cciois, or broken speecli, which he has 
acquired from some of the old negroes with whom he 
associated in his earlier years — all of whom have now 
departed, I believe, except his grandmother. Mom. Dinah, 
now nearly a hundred years old, and for more than 
thirty years the superannuated slave of my father and 
myself. Buck is sometimes quite amusing in this imi- 
tation — an instance of which, and of his drollery, oc- 
curred in a scene on board our steamer after we had been 
several days at sea. 

Among the passengers, there was a Quaker gentleman, 
a member of the Society of Friends in England, an ardent 
abolitionist and anti-slavery man. By the time referred 
to, I had become acquainted with many of my fellow- 
passengers, and with this gentleman among others. 
Buck had been at first quite sick ; and, as I was a some- 
what better sailor, I looked after his comfort as well as 
I could until he grew better. When rougher weather 
came, and I went down in my turn, he was in condition 
to serve me, which he did with his usual faithfulness. 
These things, and the relations between us, had been 
observed by the Quaker; and one day, when we were 
enjoying the fine weather on deck, he said to me, " I per- 
ceive, Doctor, that thou art attended and served by one 
who calls thee master. Is he thy slave ?" 

I replied that he was. 

Quaker. ''Art thou not afraid to take him with thee to 
England? Thou knowest that the law forbids slavery 
in that country ; and that when he lands on British soil 
he ceases to be thy slave." 

Ml/self. "1 know, sir, that such is the theory of the 
thing ; but I know, at the same time, that it will not 
prove to be true in point of fact." 

Quaker. (With an expression of much surprise.) ''How 
so, friend? I do not understand thee." 

Myself. " Perhaps I may say I mean generally that the- 
oretical freedom and slavery, and practical freedom and 
slavery, by the laws of Great Britain, are very different 
things. But what I mean now specially to say is, that 
if my man be left free to choose and act whilst we are in 
England, all the laws in the kingdom cannot break those 
2* B 



18 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

ties of affection, of tliouglit, of liabit, of nature, by wHcli 
he is bound to me ; and therefore cannot sever the re- 
lations which exist between us, nor prevent his clinging 
with unyielding tenacity to those relations. Of course, 
if he is not left free to choose, he will, to that extent, be 
enslaved by those who coerce him ; and there fact and 
theory will certainly clash." 

Quaker. " That, Doctor, is a view of the case which has 
not presented itself to me before. Thy servant seems 
much attached to thee : more than usually so, I suppose." 

Myself. " He is attached to me, certainly, and I to him. 
But so it is, though in a less degree, with my slaves 
generally. And I and my slaves are not exceptions to a 
rule. I think I may say the same thing of most of my 
neighbors. But there is my man. Suppose you talk 
with him on the subject. You may say what you please 
to him, and when you please, without offence to me. He 
is called Buck." 

Buck, who had been loitering near, and heard some 
portions of the conversation, I suppose, was addressed 
by the Quaker, and told to approach more closely. 

Quaker. " I understand thou art named Buck." 

Buck. (Taking off his hat, bowing, and scraping his 
right foot backwards, two feet.) '^ Billy Buck, massa — 
sem time, for short, da calls me Buck." 

Quaker. " Billy Buck, I understand thou art a slave, 
and thy master tells me that thou desirest not to be free, 
but art content to remain in slavery." 

Buck. '^ Me slave, massa ? I sprise at my massa ! He 
know belly well, he been work heself 'mos to def at home 
for he nigger, an da bleege to sen him way wid me to 
save he life. He de slave — me de gemmon what keeps 
care of him. Bat trute, massa." 

^' Come, come. Buck," said I, amid roars of laughter 
on the part of the bystanders, "Come, come. Buck, have 
done with your fun. This gentleman desires to under- 
stand from you something about the Way our slaves are 
treated, and their situation and feelings. Be serious ; 
answer his questions, and tell him what you know, and 
conceal nothing." 

Thereupon Buck at once changed what there was of 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 19 

the ludicrous in his face and attitude, and said, simply and 
distinctly, ''As well as I can, marster." A conversation 
ensued, with which I will not trouble you, Mr. Thomp- 
son — only adding, that it seemed greatly to impress the 
Quaker and some others present, and to give them views 
of slavery, which they had never dreamed of before. 

From what I have said, you may perceive that I had 
a travelling companion, who was a cause of no little 
amusement to me whilst in Europe ; and who was him- 
self not unfrequently a source of interest and curiosity 
to others — sometimes to my annoyance ; but never did 
I have any trouble with him, from the cause suggested 
by the good Quaker. 

My first intention was to remain in England until the 
close of the Great Exhibition, when I proposed to make 
a short visit to the Continent, and then return home. 
But when that period arrived I was advised to remain 
longer where I was ; and thus my stay in Europe was 
indefinitely prolonged. My first letters, you will see, 
relate chiefly to my private aff'airs, and to such casual 
observation and personal experience as I thought might 
interest my family and friends. But during the year 
1852 Mrs. Stowe's book, ''Uncle Tom's Cabin," was pub- 
lished, and it created a great sensation in England. It 
was soon in the hands, heads, and mouths of all classes ; 
and I, being from a Slave State, a slaveholder, and hav- 
ing a black slave as my constant attendant, was continu- 
ally made the centre of a little circle of excitement and 
discussion on the subject of slavery. In these conversa- 
tions, the various features of our social polity in the 
Slave States of JSTorth America were frequently talked 
of, with me, or in my presence. This naturally excited 
my attention, and pointed it in the direction of the con- 
trasted features of the social economy among that people 
with whom I was sojourning, and set my sharpened facul- 
ties to the task of ascertaining in some degree what these 
accurately were. In a short time, and engendered by 
the excitement which Mrs. Stowe's book had created, 
appeared the following appeal by the Stafibrd House 
ladies, (as they were called,) at the head of whom was 
the Duchess of Sutherland, to the women of America : — • 



20 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

** The Affectionate and Christian Address of many thousands of 
the Women of England to their Sisters, the Women of the 
United States of America. 

A common origin, a common faith, and, we sincerely believe, 
a common cause, urge us, at the present moment, to address 
YOU on the subject of that system of negro-slavery which still 
prevails so extensively, and, even under kindly-disposed masters, 
with such frightful results, in many of the vast regions of the 
Western World. 

We will not dwell on the ordinary topics — on the progress 
of civilisation, on the advance of freedom everywhere, on the 
rights and requirements of the nineteenth century — but we 
appeal to you very seriously to reflect, and to ask counsel of 
God, how far such a state of things is in accordance with His 
holy word, the inalienable rights of immortal souls, and the 
pure and merciful spirit of the Christian religion. 

We do not shut our eyes to the difficulties, nay, the dangers 
that might beset the immediate abolition of that long-established 
system ; we see and admit the necessity of preparation for so 
great an event : but, in speaking of indispensable prelimina- 
ries, we cannot be silent on those laws of your country which, 
in direct contravention of God's own law, ' instituted in the 
time of man's innoceney,' deny, in efl'eet, to the slave the 
sanctity of marriage, with all its joys, rights, and obligations ; 
which separate, at the will of the master, the wjfe from the 
husband, and the children from the parents. Nor can we be 
silent on that awful system which, either by statute or by cus- 
tom, interdicts to any race of man, or any portion of the 
human family, education in the truths of the Gospel and the 
ordinances of Christianity. 

A remedy applied to these two evils alone would commence 
the amelioration of their sad condition. We appeal, then, to 
you, as sisters, as wives, and as mothers, to raise your voices 
to your fellow-citizens, and your prayer to God, for the re- 
moval of this affliction from the Christian world. We do not 
say these things in a spirit of self-complacency, as though our 
nation were free from the guilt it perceives in others. We 
acknowledge, with grief and shame, our heavy share in this 
great sin. We acknowledge that our forefathers introduced, 
nay, compelled, the adoption of slavery in those mighty colo- 
nies. We humbly confess it before Almighty God ; and it is 
because we so deeply feel, and so unfeignedly avow, our own 
complicity, that we now venture to implore your aid to wipe 
awav our common crime and our common dishonor," 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 21 

By this time I had seen enough to become satisfied 
that this, and all such interference, was grossly unjust. 
I had perceived, that a clever book, written by a woman 
of genius, founded on an exaggerated and distorted view 
of slavery — a view which presented the exception for the 
rule, and left out of sight everything which might tend 
to elucidate the true rule ; and which book abounded in 
ingenious appeals to the best sympathies of human nature 
against oppression, and in favor of helpless sufferers : — 
that such a book had succeeded in exciting excellent 
people of all classes in Great Britain, until they had 
become totally blind to the truth in connection with the 
subject, — blind to the corruption, rottenness, oppression, 
outrages, and wrongs, with which their own nation 
abounded, and which should have kept their sympathies 
where charity begins — at home ; at least until they had 
wrought such changes and reforms there, as might en- 
able them to bring other nations into a court of conscience 
with clean hands. 

From my own observations, I had by this time become 
convinced, Mr. Thompson, that in Great Britain there 
was more of social profligacy than in our Slave States, 
among whites or blacks; more of suffering, destitution, 
crime, brutality, outrages upon the unoffending and the 
helpless ; more of cruelty and oppression in the treatment 
of women and children, and all inferior dependents : more 
of all these things, in a most painful degree, than in our 
Slave States. I could not, therefore, but feel how cruel, 
how sinful, indeed, was any such attempt to excite the 
women of our favored land on the subject of this feature 
in our social system, whilst wrongs and evils such as 
these, surrounded the homes, and ever lay along the 
pathways, of these virtuous ladies on every side. And 
I could not but think, that, even if slavery were sinful 
and wrong, and our system in this respect needed reform, 
such an exhortation to make it came with an exceeding 
bad grace from those who were members of a body- 
politic which was productive of more and greater evils. 

Under the influence of feelings and reflections such as 
these, I commenced to take notes of such facts as were 
continually occurring around me, made memoranda of 



22 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR^ 

some that liad previously come to my knowledge, and 
collected reports or notices of others from the public 
press. When I wrote, as I frequently did, to our friend, 
the Major, I communicated this information, as a method 
of giving form and embodiment to the contrast and com- 
parison of social institutions, which, as I have suggested, 
I was anxious to have made. It is my wish that only 
such of my letters written from Europe as relate to, or 
have a bearing upon, this particular subject, shall be 
published; unless an exception be made of tw^o or three 
letters only, which have reference to the Grreat Exhibi- 
tion. This may leave a considerable hiatus (or interval 
unoccupied with letters) during the year 1852 and. early 
part of 1853 ; but the reason for this can be readily found 
in the suggestion which I have made.* 

I will add, that all the statements which I have made, 
as statements of material facts, unless it be such as are 
notorious among educated persons, and all ■ the charges 
affecting the character of individuals, or of the British 
people as a nation, are based upon their own accounts of 
themselves, which accompany these charges, or distinctly 
refer to the authority upon which the statement is made ; 
and I have ventured to make such charges only where I 
could furnish some such evidence of their correctness. 

In the form of an Appendix, or of Notes to these let- 
ters, I will submit such facts and statistics, as w411 serve 
the reader in the effort to compare important features 
in the social economy of our slaveholding community, 
with those of Great Britain as exhibited by these letters ; 
and will enable him, for himself, to contrast the conduct 
and character of our people with those of the British 
people, and so endeavor somewhat to ascertain the effect 
of slave-institutions upon the virtue and happiness of a 
nation. 

I am tempted to add, Mr. Thompson, that, if the public 
should ratify your opinion of these letters from Old Eng- 
land, I may give them, one of these days, the benefit of 
similar missives from (and of a visit by Billy Buck and 
myself to) New England. 

* The Doctor's wisli has been complied with. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 23 

These are the explanations which I thought it proper 
to make ; and I am, dear sir, 

Very respectfully, 

Y'r ob'nt serv't, 

P. Jones. 
To W. T. Thompson, Esq. 

Savannah, Geo. 



LETTEK I. 

ARRIVAL IN LONDON — BUCK VISITS THE CRYSTAL PALACE — 
HIS DESCRIPTION OF IT. 

London, July 8th, 1851. 

Dear Major : — I have arrived safely in London. I 
came on after resting one night only in Liverpool : so 
anxious was I to reach the Great Exhibition as soon as 
possible, and have my plough regularly entered for the 
race. 

I had some difficulty in procuring lodgings, owing to 
the press of people brought here from so many nations 
by this great Fair ; and really I believe I should have 
had to sleep in the streets, or have taken up with lodg- 
ings something worse, but for the aid of a gentleman 
whom I met by accident. My lodgings are upon a some- 
what small scale, though comfortable ; and I find the 
people of the house accommodating enough, though their 
manner of doing things is so different from that to which 
I have been accustomed as to keep me somewhat ill at 
ease. I have been otherwise unwell, too, ever since my 
arrival, and have not left my room, though it has been 
with difficulty that I have restrained myself from going 
out to the Crystal palace. Buck has made his visit there, 
however, and has given me the benefit of the impression 
which it created upon him. Finding it advisable for me 
to keep my room this morning, and having no need for 
his services, I gave him permission to ''go out and see 



24 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

the sights." He tricked himself off in his best apparel, 
and started. Soon after he left the room, hearing his 
voice below the window, I looked out upon the following 
scene : 

'^ Mister," said Buck to one of the waiters, taking off 
his hat quite politely, ^' Mister, can you tell me the way 
to the Christian Palace ?" 

" Will you 'ave a cab ?" said the waiter. 

''No, thank you," said he, with a scrape of his foot; 
''it's the Great Exerbishun I'm axin' for, sir." 

" Oh, yer are, are yer ? How will yer take it — warm 
with, or cold without ? P'raps yer'd prefer it iced ?" 

" No, I'm obleeged to you ; I wouldn't choose any," 
said Buck humbly, and puzzled ; "I wants to go to the 
Christian Palace, I say. Mister." 

"Oh, yer do, do yer? So I heerd yer say, yer ugly 
old lamp-post; and I asked yer if yer'd 'ave a cab. 
P'raps yer'd like me to get yer a 'ansom." [Hansom, 
you know. Major, is the name of a vehicle which is used 
in London for the transportation of passengers.] 

" Look here. Mister," said Buck, " don't call names. 
Ef I am ugly, I am as God made me ; and I shan't go to 
you to get handsome, I can tell you ; becase you haint 
got none of that ar article to spar. Mister." 

Buck strode away quite indignant, and worked his 
way, by hook or by crook, to the Crystal Palace. He 
returned after some hours, in a state of great excite- 
ment. 

" How did you like the Crystal Palace ?" said I. 

" First-rate, Marster. But this here London town is 
curoser than it. I never spected to see sich a place in 
all my born days. Why, Marster, hits so big, tell you, 
can't tell you how big hit is — whar hit begins, nor whar 
hit eends. I sorter used to think that Pineville was 
some punkins, tell I seed Augusty, and hit tuk the shine 
out of it ; then I seed New York, and Augusty was no 
whar 'longside of it. But, Marster, you might take 
Pineville, an' Augusty, an' New York, an wrap 'um all 
up together, an put 'um all into one of the pockets of 
this big town, an' then you couldn't find 'um 'thout 
sarchin' mighty close." 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 25 

What about the Crystal Palace?" said I; ''What is it 
like?" 

" Well, Marster," said he, "hits a monstrous big glass 
house, fixed up with iron. Take it bye and large, sir, an' 
hit's bout as big as our rye pasture ; an' hit's sittiwated 
in a sort o' woods lot that they calls a park, 'bout the 
size of our brush-arbor field. Hit's as chock full of 
curosities as a egg is of meat, sir. Thar's trees grow- 
ing in it 'bout as big as some of the trees in our grove, 
Sir. 

''Are the trees in the park large and fine?" said I. 

"Tell you what it is, Marster, we've got no sich 
houses as that in our country, an' no sich curosities in 
'um as I seed thar ; but when hit comes to trees, sir, 
we've got 'um — them trees can't shine 'longside of our 
Georgy woods." 

" How did you find your way to the Palace ?" said I. 

" Kep etarnally axin, Marster, tell I found people 
gwine thar. God knows, thar was people enough in the 
streets to ax of — more people than ever I seed before, in 
all the days of my life, I raaly do believe, sir ; and some 
of the outlandishest folks at that. They didn't seem 
to talk good Inglish talk, nohow ; an' 'peared like they 
couldn't adzactly onderstand me. Ef what half on 'um 
said hadn't been a huckleberry over my persimmon to 
onderstand, I mought have found my way to the Chris- 
tian Palace before I did." 

" I observed your failure to understand the waiter," 
said I, " when you first left the house, and the blunders 
you committed when talking to him. The man requested 
to know if he should call a cab (that is, a carriage) for 
you ; and then he asked if he should get a hansom for 
you (another name for a sort of carriage or cab), and 
you were quite impertinent in your replies to him." 

" Well, raaly ! was that what he meant to say, sir ? 
Why, I thought he was tryin' to make divarsion of me. 
I'll go right straight off, Marster, and ax the gen'l'man's 
pardon." 

As I told you. Major, my apartments are rather con- 
tracted ; but, considering what the press is just now, I 
have reason to be thankful that I have done so well. 
3 



26 . THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, 

Everything is neat and clean, and the servants are atten- 
tive. It is the custom here, I find, to, furnish the supply 
of accommodations according to the demand. A certain 
price must be paid for your apartments, and then you 
are charged separately for everything else. But for 
what I am informed are customary servants' fees, the 
prices would not be so very extravagant, considering the 
crowds who are . now swarming into this city. My pro- 
bable expenses by the week, as well as I can learn, will 
not exceed fifty-eight shillings, not reckoning servant's 
perquisites ; or about fifteen dollars in our currency. 
jSTot so very bad, considering the "jam." 

You shall hear from me again soon. Meantime, I am, 
dear Major, 

Your friend and cousin, 

To Major Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville Georgia, U. S. of America. 



LETTEE IL 

DR. JONES VISITS AND DESCRIBES THE GREAT EXHIBITION. 

London, July 10th, 1851. 

Dear major : — I have visited the Great Exhibition, 
and hasten to ivrite you an account rather of the general 
impression produced on my mind than of the details. To 
furnish you with an account of these details would re- 
quire many days, and then I should have performed the 
task very imperfectly. You will find it sufiiciently well 
done by the newspapers, which I send you by this mail. 
In this letter I enclose an excellent engraving, which I 
assure you presents an accurate picture of one front and 
end of the building, and gives you a very good idea of 
the whole. 

The building, you know, is chiefly composed of glass, 
supported by iron pillars, which spring from the wooden 
flooring. The roof, which is of glass, has been somewhat 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 27 

darkened and protected by a canvass covering, and tlie 
water which falls on it is carried off through the centres 
of the many thousand iron pillars, which have been 
made hollow, and thus perform the double purpose of 
props and gutters. These pillar-pipes conduct the water 
into drains below, which communicate with sewers be- 
neath the ground. A shower of rain came on whilst I 
was in the building, and the effect was very extraordi- 
nary. A roaring sound in the direction of the roof was 
heard, as of the surf upon the sea-shore, whilst, by list- 
ening attentively, the dashing of a thousand muffied 
water-falls might be detected within the pillars. The 
size of the building may be judged of by the fact that 
the roof comprises a space of about twenty acres. The 
banners which are ranged along the roof are the flags 
of all nations; and the prominent feature which you 
will observe in the centre of the building is the great 
transept. The main entrance is on the south. 

I was indebted to the assistance of a gentleman who 
had frequently visited the Palace in forming my first ac- 
quaintance with it, and you shall have the benefit of 
somewhat that I saw and learned. 

When I had passed by that main entrance, my attention 
was first called to many narrow, dark-looking passages^ 
branching to the right and left of this entrance. Here, 
I was told, presided the intellect which governed this 
vast piece of machinery. The main-springs which give 
it motion and rea;ulate its action are here seated. In a 
number of small apartments, a few feet square, connected 
with each other, the members of the Executive Commit- 
tee are accustomed to sit and administer the affairs of 
the Institution, as it may be called. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Reed, of the Engineering Corps attached to the British 
army, assisted by a Mr. Dilke, here superintends the 
whole. A Mr. Cole regulates the allotment of space and 
the arrangement of articles in the building, and Mr. 
Digby Wyatt here looks after its plans and structure. 
Here are also the heads of various other departments, 
too tedious to mention. On the left is a room more 
sumptuously furnished than those I have just described, 
where the Boyal Commissioners sometimes assemble. 



28 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 

From this position I advanced into the body of the 
edifice, and was soon lost in the seething mass of life 
which stirred throughout the immense enclosure. It is 
said in the papers that more than fifty thousand persons 
visited the building on that day. I found people of all 
nations, apparently, and all tongues, encountering and 
jostling one another ; and there was more that was im- 
pressive to me in this mass of men, coming from the 
quiet of a country home, as I did, than in all that mag- 
nificent and curious assemblage of the world's wealth 
which was ranged on every side of me. Something of 
the order in which this was arranged you will learn from 
the number of the Times which I send you. I will en- 
deavor to give you an idea of the character of the arti- 
cles by such general descriptions of them as I find fur- 
nished. Of course, by far the greater number of speci- 
mens supplied are by citizens of the United Kingdom of 
England, Ireland, and Scotland. I am sorry that our 
countrymen have occupied so small a space in the build- 
ing. They have filled only a portion of that which was 
set apart for them, and so far, their contributions are not 
very remarkable. 

The interest of an American who enters the building 
turns almost instinctively to the machinery exhibited. I 
mention, then, as first in the list, the splendid Speci- 
mens of various Machines, Steaon Engines, Railway Car- 
riages, and Naval Mechanism. The United Kingdom 
is almost unrivalled in this field, and the specimens fur- 
nished are most admirable. Then come Civil Engineer- 
ing, and Architectural and Building Machinery ; in 
which the preponderance is greatly in favor of Great 
Britain, but France and Switzerland compete hand- 
somely. Next we have Naval Architecture, then Mili- 
tary Engineering, Ordnance, Armor, and Accoutrements. 
In some of these branches the competition is very consi- 
derable. Next in order I mention Agricultural and 
Horticultural Machines and Implements. Here, again, 
there is considerable competition from the United King- 
dom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and, in a less 
degree, from our country. I expected many more con- 
tributions in this line from our countrymen, especially 



BILLY buck's visit TO EjSTGLAND. 29 

from tlie ingenious meclianics of New England. Tliere 
is a reaping machine exhibited by a Mr. M'Cormick, from 
the United States, which is very much admired, and will 
receive a prize, I have no doubt. There is a line speci- 
men of a plough from the same quarter, contributed by 
ProLity and Mears ; and then there is the plough of your 
humble servant : both of which deserve success, if they 
do not obtain it. I was next attracted to Manvfac- 
tiering Machines and Tools. Here the competition w^itli 
the United Kingdom is very considerable, and here our 
countrymen enter the lists a little more extensively ; but 
new specimens from their hands are not as numerous as 
I expected to see them. Carnages of various sorts then 
drew my attention. The United Kingdom has it pretty 
much its own way here. Our people show some buggies, 
which may perhaps win favor. I next mention Fhiloso- 
phical ayid Surgical Instrmnents. Here the competition 
is very great, and the specimens most wonderful. Fol- 
lowing this, I should place Horological Instruments — 
clocks, w^atches, etc. ; in which the competition is very 
great. Among the clocks is one intended to run five 
hundred days. There are also many interesting speci- 
mens of Musical Instruments from many nations. Our 
countryman, Mr. Chickering, will obtain a prize for his 
piano, I have no doubt. My attention was next given to 
the department of Cotton Fabrics. Here, perhaps, you 
naturally expect our people to shine ; but I am afraid it 
will not turn out so. The United Kingdom has a great 
preponderance in the articles exhibited, though there are 
some splendid specimens from other countries. France 
contributes some articles which, for oris-inalitv and 
beauty of design, are unsurpassed. Switzerland sends 
splendid specimens of muslins and ginghams, and our 
New England manufacturers send some coarse fabrics 
which are much admired. In Woollen and Worsted the 
competition is greater, and the display is most remark- 
able. Our countrymen are '^ no where " in the race. So, 
again, w4th reference to Silk and Velvet, to manufactures 
from Flax and Hemp, and to Mixed Fabrics, Shawls, etc. 
Saxony sends very rich specimens of silk stuffs for tapestry, 
furniture, carriages, etc. Satins, laces, embroidery, broca- 
3* 



30 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

telle; etc., ricli specimens of velvet, silk, embroidered cam- 
bric liandkercliiefs, etc., are also sent from Geneva. In 
Leather manufactures there is also considerable competi- 
tion ; and here, especially in the articles of harness and 
trunks, our people present some claims to rivalry. The 
exhibition of Skins, Furs, etc., is also very extensive, and 
very admirable. The department of Paper, Stationery, 
■Printing, and Bookbinding next attracted my observation. 
In this department are 160 fine books, printed in the Ara- 
bic, Persian, and Turkish languages, contributed by the 
Government of Egypt. Think of Abbas Pasha sending 
literature to the Great Exhibition ! There are innume- 
rable specimens of Printing, or Dyeing, which I did not 
have time to examine. The Tapestry, Carpets, etc., ex- 
hibited, constitute one of the most interesting depart- 
ments in the Exhibition ; and in it there is remarkable 
competition among several of the European States. Here 
again we are far behind in the race. In Lace and Etyi^ 
broidery, Fancy Work, etc., the same remarks may be 
made. In Articles of Clothing for Domestic use the com- 
petition is also very ex^nsive ; and here some fine arti- 
cles from our country ai^ exhibited. In Iron and Hard- 
ware there is very considerable competition between 
the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and France ; 
though I must confess the English seem to bear away the 
palm in this line. So, too, they have it very much all 
their own way in Cutlery and Edge Tools. In Jewelry, 
Working in the Precious Metals, Articles of Virtu, etc., 
the competition is very remarkable among the European 
States. Here, in my opinion, the greatest number of 
prizes in proportion to the number of contributions will 
be borne away by citizens of France — their goldsmith 
work is indeed very beautiful. In Glass, the display is 
very remarkable, and the honors very much divided 
among European States, I thought. So, also, as to Por- 
celain, Earthenware, etc. So, also, as to Decorative Fur- 
niture and Upholstery, Manufactures in Mineral Sub- 
stances used for Building or Decoration. So as to 
various Manufactures from Aiiijnal and Vegetable Sub- 
stances, such as straw and shell work, ivory, combs. 
India-rubber, gutta-percha, hair, feathers, brushes, etc. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 31 

Here, again, our people bravely enter the lists in the 
India-rubber and gutta-percha lines. In Sculpture, Mo- 
dels, and the Plastic art, the competition is chiefly among 
the Continental European States, Italy, France, Austria, 
Bavaria, Belgium, Prussia, and other parts of Germany. 
The United States are represented by Powers and his 
Greek Slave. In Mining, Quarrying, etc., the specimens 
were very extensive, especially from the various States 
of Europe. And so in Chemical and Pharinaceutical 
Processes and Products. In the department of Substances 
used as Food, the display was truly remarkable and ex- 
ceedingly interesting. And here our country is enabled 
very prominently and favorably to enter into the compe- 
tition. Here Abbas Pasha, of Egypt, and Mr. T. Bell, 
of Genesee, in our country, are rivals in the article of 
wheat. Heath & Burrows, from Australia, refuse to ad- 
mit the superiority of either specimen to that which they 
present ; Lepelletier, from Algeria, also claims the privi- 
lege of entering the lists against them all. Here sugars 
from Siam, from Canada, from Cuba, from the United 
States, from Malaga, from India, from France (beet 
sugar), and from Austria (also beet sugar), are in gene- 
rous rivalry. But I fear I shall grow tedious if I longer 
continue the subject. I will therefore only add that the 
collection of Vegetable and Animal Siobstances, Woods, 
etc., 'Used in Manufactures as Pnplements, etc., or for 
Orna'inent, was most extensive and curious. It is, of 
course, from all parts of the world, and names of contri- 
butors in this department very familiar to me, such as 
Mr. Bond, and James V. Jones, of our State, and Colonel 
Hampton and Colonel Seabrook, of South Carolina, are 
found alongside of St. Maur, of Algeria, M 'Arthur, of 
New South Wales, Manuel, Cape of Good Hope, and 
Abdul Hamid, of Egypt. 

Perhaps I may return to this subject. In the mean 
time, I am, dear Major, 

Your friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



32 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 



- LETTER III. 

buck's greeting of the queen and royal family — IN- 
TERVIEW WITH AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN CONVERSATION 

AS TO SLAVERY. 

London, August 1st, 1851. 

Deae Ma joe : — One day last week I had the pleasure 
of seeing the Royal Family of this country. Under- 
standing that they were to visit the Crystal Palace at or 
about a certain hour, and that they would probably enter 
by one of the private doors, which was pointed out to 
me, I determined to obtain a position from which I could 
see them. I repaired to the spot, but found myself pre- 
ceded by quite a number of persons. I succeeded, how- 
ever, in getting near enough to see them, though the 
view was not as satisfactory as I could have desired. 
The Queen appeared to be a ladylike but most plain per- 
son, with amiable features, and rather under size in 
stature. The Prince, her husband, was a very fine-look- 
ing gentleman, of about middle stature, I thought, and 
ra-ther intellectual in his appearance. Of the children 
I did not get a good view. 

I was much interested with the enthusiasm of the 
people around me. They were evidently influenced not 
only by the sentiment of loyalty, but by a feeling more 
tender — a sentiment of aff'ection for and sympathy with 
the good and virtuous wife and mother. I confess that 
my own heart warmed toward the august lady, as I saw 
her thus, not with the peculiar bearing of a mighty sove- 
reign, but as the gentle patroness of industry and the 
arts, and with her husband and children about her, 
affording to her subjects and the world an example of 
those domestic virtues which shed so sweet and soft a 
light upon the hearthstone, as well of the humble home- 
stead as of the royal palace; and, republican as I was, I 
joined jright heartily in the cheers which were given her 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 33 

before she entered the building. As for Buck, by dint 
of pushing and elbowing, he managed to get nearer, and 
mounted on a curb-stone, or step of some sort, which 
rather raised him above the heads of most of the crowd. 
He joined lustily in the cheering, and then, turning 
toward me, and affecting the droll, he said, in his Afri- 
can lingo, " God bress my soul, Massa, she nuttin but 
buckra folks arter all ! I been tink she engel from heb- 
bin, only got petticoat stidy wing." 

Some of those around him cheered this speech ; which 
observing, the rogue continued : 

^' Well, if she no bin engel, Massa, she desarve to be 
engel ; she good sem like engel, dat trute. In my coun- 
try, Massa," (addressing a portly gentleman, whose fine 
face, glowing with delight, was turned up to him,) " in 
Ebo country, dem queen de debbil." 

" You had better be careful, Buck," said I, for want 
of something better to say, " how you declare that the 
Queen deserves to be an angel. That is as much as to 
say she deserves to die ; and some of these loyal Eng- 
lishmen, hearing you say that, may charge you with com- 
passing the death of her Majesty." 

Buck. ''No sir-ree, Massa! me no compuss nuttin — 
nairy time — me only say dat Queen good sem like engel 
— dat what make her people lub hear so, Massa." 

''So it is, my man," said the same portly and good- 
humored gentleman to whom I have referred; " so it is ; 
and I honor you for appreciating our Queen as you do." 

The gentleman shook Buck warmly by the hand. The 
latter returned the grasp with such a right good will as 
to bring tears into the Englishman's handsome eyes. 

" What is your name, my man ?" said he. 

" Billy Buck," said Buck, taking off his hat and drop- 
ping his African dialect, "sarvant to Dr. Jones, of Georgy, 
sir: this gen'l'man, sir, my Marster." 

" Sir," said the gentleman, turning to me with a bow, 
" I have been quite pleased with the humor of your ser- 
vant, and his liking for our Queen." 

Myself. " He has been bred, sir, in a country where all 
classes honor those virtues which are so conspicuous in 
the Queen of England, and where the sex of your sove- 

c 



34 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

reign is always treated with respect by the opposite sex 
— even by the slave." 

Stranger. '^ You are from the United States, I suppose; 
and this man is your slave." 

Myself. ''Yes." 

Stranger. '' Yours is a remarkable country, sir ; and 
certainly such respect for the gentler sex is highly credit- 
able to its people. I have heard it said that there was a 
chivalric regard for -women in America. Does your ob- 
servation in Euro]3e serve to strengthen the belief that 
your people are peculiar in this respect ?" 

Myself. '' I have been impressed with the conviction that 
a more delicate respect for woman, and tender regard for 
little children, is common among my countrymen, espe- 
cipJly in the Southern States, than — if you will pardon 
me, sir — than among Englishmen." 

Stranger. '' Why should this be so ? And can you 
assign a reason for such a state of facts ?" 

Myself. "Perhaps the subject, as a social problem, 
should be closely studied, to be thoroughly understood in 
all its aspects ; but I like to think of the fact of which I 
have spoken, as a blessing from the household and family 
gods of our people — the Lares familiar es, sir, as an 
ancient people once called them. My countrymen, espe- 
cially in the South, as a general rule, live very much in 
families. The necessaries of life are sufficiently easy of 
acquisition to encourage our young men and women in 
the ready formation of family ties. In a country like 
ours, it is to the public interest that families should be 
increased as much as possible ; and therefore these rela- 
tions assume a very high importance in the eyes of so- 
ciety. In a community where the institution of slavery 
exists, the servants, as slaves, become a permanent por- 
' tion of, and are completely identified with, the family 
circle, and thus that circle is enlarged and widened in its 
sphere and influences. Depend upon it, sir, it was not with- 
out a foundation in true knowledge of human nature that 
those ancient Eomans chose the ''Decurions of their La- 
res " in every family from among its slaves, and appointed 
slaves, not freemen, to assist the priests in their sacri- 
fices to these divinities, as Cicero and Horace both inform 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 35 

US was the custom. You may remember that, in your 
schoolboy lessons, you found a very pleasant picture, 
drawn by the latter, of the happy slaves sitting around 
the family Lares : 

' Positos, que vernas ditis examen doraus, 
Circura renidentes Lares.' 

It is in this way, sir, that I account, in part, for a gene- 
ral prevalence among my countrymen, white and black, 
of those affections, sympathies, and sentiments which 
cluster around the homes of a people, and those who are 
identified with those homes : viz., women and children." 

Stranger. ^' Sir, you put the subject before me in a strik- 
ing and, to me, somewhat novel light. I have not been 
in the habit of thinking of your slaves as living under 
the influence of such relations between them and their 
owners." 

Myself. '^ In that, you and others have not rightly com- 
prehended this institution as it exists among us. To a 
great extent, and as a general rule, our slaves regard 
themselves as a part of the family, and bound up with 
its interests. As a race, they are good-humored and 
affectionate, and they soon become attached to their 
owners, unless the latter are cruel to them, which does 
not as often happen as may be supposed ; for the interest 
of the owner generally forbids it (as the law does), 
when conscience does not. Your own eloquent Burke, 
in his letters to Arthur Young, has said that ' It is 
plainly more to the farmer's interest that his men should 
thrive than that his horses should be well fed, sleek, and 
plump, and fit for use, or than that his wagons and 
ploughs should be strong, in good repair, and fit for ser- 
vice.' If this be right when spoken of free laborers, 
you will readily perceive how it must be so of those who 
are the property of the farmer. The attachment of which 
I have spoken is very often mutual, and strong and life- 
long friendships are thus formed. Here is my man, for 
f^xample, to whom I am indebted for the pleasure of this 
interview with you, sir. Next to my wife and child, I 
have no such living friend." * 

* See Appendix, K, § 2. 



36 THE SLAVEHOLDEK ABEOAD ; OE, 

Stranger. " Truly, sir, I am liappy to liave met with you, 
and your man too. I shall be glad to make your better 
acquaintance, and will exchange cards with you with 
pleasure." 

I learned, during the day, that my newly-formed ac- 
quaintance was a Mr. A , a gentleman of large 

landed estate and great wealth in Yorkshire; and that, 
though now confining himself very much to agriculture, 
he was highly respected, of considerable influence, and 
had a seat in Parliament. 

In the course of a few days, I received a visit from 

Mr. A , and I think our respect for each other was 

increased by the interview. Buck and he, too, had a 
long conversation, and he protested that Buck was ^' quite 
a trump of a fellow." He invited me cordially to make 
him a visit at his country seat, and by ail means to bring 
Buck with me. I think he was sincere, and we parted 
almost as old friends. He has less of that unimpressible 
reserve which characterizes Englishmen generally than 
I have ever before met with in a gentleman of this na- 
tion, and more of ready sympathy. I think I shall accept 
his invitation, and so learn somewhat of life in the 
country among the gentry of England. If I do, you 
may expect to hear something on the subject from 

Your friend and cousin, 
P. Jones. 

To Maj". Joseph Jones, 

Pineville, G-a., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 37 



LETTER IV. 

ANECDOTE OF DR. JACKSON AND THE GEORGIAN IN LONDON, 

WHOSE INDIANS WOULDN'T SHOW DR. JONES'S PLOUGH A 

FAILURE IN ENGLAND, BECAUSE HE DID NOT CARRY HIS 

ROOTS WITH HIM A FRENCHMAN'S OPINION OF AMERICA 

ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN BLACK THE DOCTOR CONSOLES 

HIMSELF FOR HIS FAILURE WITH A SCRAP FROM THE TRA- 
GEDY OF "TOM THUMB." 

London, October 20th, 1851. 

Dear Major : — It is true, as you suggest, that I have 
not, in either of my letters, said anything about the fate 
of my plough. I wish that the subject could be quietly 
put aside, and that you did not cause me to renew my 
grief by alluding to it. It '^ goes against the grain," as 
we say in Georgia ; but I might as well own up at once, 
and be done with it — my plough speculation has proven 
a bit of a failure here, Major. 

Before saying more about it, I will tell you a story 
which the late venerable Dr. Jackson was accustomed to 
relate. 

Many years ago, the Doctor was Secretary of Legation 
when Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, was Minister of the 
United States at the French Court. Whilst occupying 
that post, he had occasion to visit London ; and during 
that visit he was called upon by a citizen of Georgia, who 
had need for his advice and services. The Georgian had, 
a short time previously, taken with him to London a 
party of Creek Indians, with whom he had entered into 
an agreement for the purpose of putting them on exhibi- 
tion in Great Britain. Very soon after they had reached 
London, and the profits of their adventure had com- 
menced, the Indians obtained a taste of fire-water, and 
at once broke over all bounds of discretion. Refusing to 
have their powers confined to the '' pent-up Utica " of an 
exhibition-room, they stampeded, and roamed over the 
4 



38 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

city at large — thus gratifying the curiosity of the cock- 
neys gratis, and utterly annihilating the Georgian's 
visions of golden guineas in prospective. He had spent 
his all in transporting the Indians to England, and after 
this break-down of his plans, was in great embarrass- 
ment. He went to the Doctor, as a brother Georgian, 
stated his distress, and obtained advice and assistance. I 
. mention his case, because it reminds me of my own ad- 
venture in one particular. He told the Doctor that he 
was ruined by having omitted only one little element 
from his calculation when embarking upon his specula- 
tion. All his plans, he said, were well laid in every re- 
spect, and the Indians and he were " as good for a for- 
tune as a thrip was for a ginger-cake — only, when it 
came to the pinch, the d d creeturs wouldrit show." 

Now my case was somewhat similar in one respect, as 
I have suggested. I, too, had omitted one little element 
from the calculation. Im every other feature my plans 
were perfect; but unfortunately. Major, my plough 
couldn't shoiv. 

You know that the great and distinguishing feature in 
my invention was its adaptation to cutting up and break- 
ing away roots and other such obstacles. Well, when I 
met the Committee of the Great Exhibition who were to 
decide upon the merits, of the invention, whose claims I 
had lodged in the usual and regular manner, you may be 
sure that I dwelt eloquently upon this neiv and most im- 
portant feature. I made a decided impression upon the 
members, I thought. It appeared to me very plainly 
that my point was gained, and that the long coveted 
medal was as good as won, when a great, bluff, beef-eating 
John Bull of a fellow, in a sort of cut-away coat, with 
an immense riding-whip sticking out of the pocket, — a 
perfect gentleman, though, in voice and manner, I must 
confess, — exclaimed, ^^Ah, yes ! It's all very well, with- 
out doubt. But where shall we see it tried ? What do 
we know about cutting roots ? And where shall we find 
a bit of ground such as the gentleman describes ?" 

Gracious heavens ! It had never occurred to me 
before, but it was too true — there were no new ground- 
roots in England. The Committee had no experience in 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 39 

such matters ; and my invention had about as much 
practical value in their eyes as if it had been designed 
to turn up the lava on the mountains in the moon. 

And here I had been, for several lono; months, rollina; 
this sweet morsel of hope under my tongue, and spend- 
ing so many dollars in '^projeetin' " with the thing, as 
Buck expressed it — and now to be defeated because they 
could not ''go to the root of the matter," was too bad. 
Think of a country so '' bad off " as not to have any new 
grounds or clearings. Major ! The blow was a smasher; 
and I felt very much like that little Frenchman who was 
landed for the first time on American soil, with a party 
of English or American sailors (the story does not say 
which), upon a barren spot in West Florida. He looked 
around at the dreary landscape, the gopher-hills, the 
black-jacks, the stunted pines, and palmettos, and shud- 
deringly exclaimed, ''And dees is Amerique, eh? Vel, 
if dees is Amerique, je suis perfectment disguust, God 
d n !" 

I confess that I was perfectly disgusted, myself. I did 
not care who knew it; and thereupon I vowed a vow 
something like that taken by that witty friend of our 
youth, the late Captain Black — peace to his memory ! 

The Captain, (as we always called him, you know,) had 
once taken up several cases from the county in which he 
practised as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Georgia. 
He had been accustomed to have his own way very much, 
when not gravelled by some point of law, before the juries 
of his county ; but meeting with indifferent success before 
the Court of Errors and Appeals, he left the chamber, 
shook its dust from his feet, and vowed that he would 
never take another case to the Supreme Court until he 
could carry his jury up with him. He kept that vow, 
too, I believe, and never did take up another case. 

Well, my vow was, that I would never again take a 
plough to an exhibition in England until I could carry my 
roots with me. 

Notwithstanding this disappointment, I consider that 
my plough has triumphed ; for no one has dared to enter 
the lists with me. The idea has been on all sides ad- 
mitted to be a happy one; and I clearly only needed "a 



40 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

fair field '' to insure favor and success. I may therefore 
exclaim with Lord G-rizzle, in his campaign against Tom 
Thumb, 

" Thus far our arms with victory are crowned ; 
For, though we have not fought, yet we have found 
No enemy to fight withal." 

The fact is, Major, though I have been trying to put a 
good face on the matter, yet I am not a little taken down 
by it, I will confess to you. 

I know you are sorry for me ; but don't carry that 
sort of thing too far, and be as quiet about it as you can. 
I already hear your attempts at consolation. Yes, I 
know very well, that ^' it is useless to cry over spilt milk," 
and that ^'what can't be cured" — &c. There, you need 
not finish. I know, I know it quite as well as Poor 
Kichard ever did, or Sancho Panza, or any other grinder 
of the grist called proverbs. I know, besides, what you 
would say, but for your compassion at present, that I 
should have '' stuck to my last," and not have been a 
suitor for favors in foreign lands, but have sent my plough 
to the Georgia fair at Atlanta. I confess that, if I had 
done that, the want of a few roots would not have been 
in the way of my luck. But never mind. It is not too 
late. I can do that yet. I can christen it for Mr. Peters, 
call it the " Peters' Eoot Eipper," and so overcome fate, 
vanquish destiny, and secure a premium. 

In the meantime, don't make any more fun or fuss 
about my temporary failure than you can possibly help ; 
or I shall not continue to subscribe myself 

Yr, friend and cousin, 

P, Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, Pineville, G-eo., 

U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 41 



LETTEE V. 

DR. JONES AND HIS MAN VISIT A HALL IN YORKSHIRE. 



Hall, November 14, 1851. 



Dear Major : — I accepted Mr. A 's invitation, so 

cordially extended to me, as mentioned in my letter of 
August 4th, and repeated a few days since; and have 
been for two days his guest at this place. 

I came by rail of course, and had but a flying glance 
at the country, except the last eight or ten miles ; other- 
wise I would give you something of a description of it. 
I could see enough, however, to excite my warmest admi- 
ration for the signs of culture and of comfort which 
abounded on every side. The sensations which a journey 
for the first time through such a region excites in the 
bosom of an American, are of a very animated character. 
Much of that which is common-place to the inhabitants 
of older countries, impresses him with the freshness of 
originality. Antiquity itself, or rather that which results 
from it, is novelty to him. Read as he may about these 
things, the native of our country can have no cor- 
rect conception of the progress of the same people through 
many centuries of civilization, until he beholds the results 
with his own eyes. Prosperous as we are, and rich in so 
many kinds of resources in our country, our tastes are yet 
in their infancy, and we are almost unlearned in the great 
elements of architecture. The truth is, to one accustomed 
to our society, the beauty of the parks, and gardens, and 
public grounds here, the elaborate, substantial, and mas- 
sive character of the architecture, and the lavish expen- 
diture necessary to create these things, must always be 
objects of wonder. 

I found Mr. A 's carriage waiting for me at the 

station where I was to leave the rail ; and I then rode 
several miles through a countrv still more beautiful, I 

^ * 



42 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

believe, tlian any I had seen. My ride was for tlie most 
part along one of those valleys which abound, I am told, 
in this part of Yorkshire, and are remarkable for beauty 
and fertility. In it seemed to be concentrated all, or 
nearly all, of those features which are peculiar to English 
scenery. On either side were to be seen trim and accu- 
rately clipped hedges; graceful slopes, dressed in that 
.neat and tidy beauty, so distinctively English; elegant 
mansions, or picturesque cottages, surrounded by exten- 
sive green crops, stacks of grain ornamentally put up, 
clusters of handsome trees, and grassy lawns. Occasion- 
ally I beheld a lordly dwelling-place, of substantial gran- 
deur, encompassed with parks and beautiful scenery ; and 
then I passed beneath the brow of a hill which was covered 
with a feudal ruin. From one elevated point the view was 
magnificent. I stopped the carriage, that I might enjoy 
it for a few minutes. In my immediate vicinity the 
prospect was such as I have just described. In the dis- 
tance, on one side of me, were strange, greyish-colored 
hills, monotonous in outline, and which, I was told, are 
called the Wolds. In another direction could be seen the 
spire of what, the coachman told me, was York-Minster ; 
in another, the silver thread of a river was seen flowing 
towards the sea; and in yet another lay a bright and 
sparkling lake, fixed like a jewel in the rich drapery of 
the landscape. 

in a short time we reached a more level country, and 

soon afterwards came upon the estate of Mr. A . 

About a mile from the Hall we entered the park-gates, 
which were opened for us by a young woman, who came 
out of the porter's lodge ; and we then advanced along 
an avenue bordered with splendid oak and beech trees. 

Presently Billy Buck, who was on the outside of the 
carriage, cried out in so much excitement as to forget his 
usual respectful address — " Marster, marster, Joe's dead, 
ef thar aint a deer." I had scarcely looked out, when he 
exclaimed — "As God is my judge, marster, thar's two on 
'um — three — four — five — w-h-e-w-t, thar's a whole gang, 
sir — look, look,* marster ! How on yearth do they git 
here, sir? 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 43 

'■They are tame deer," said I, ''and are kept in the 
parks here like cattle." 

" Well, raaly ! I thought it mighty curous, how wild 
deer could live here 'mong all the clarins we've been see- 
in, thick as the woods is jest here, sir. Well, tame or 
not, hits a beautiful sight, marster. I wish Mars. Joe 
was here to see hit. Hit 'ud give him the hystrikes, sar- 
tain, ef he was to see 'um standin so fare, an he not 
'lowed to bring ' Old Nance ' " [your rifle's name, I sup- 
pose. Major] " to bar on 'um. W-h-oo-pee, what would'nt 
he give jest to git a crack at one, an then turn Black- 
Jowler, an Kill-Buck, an Rock, loose on the balance. 
Now, would'nt ole Rock be in town, with a pocket full o' 
rocks, an such easy work before him ? I 'member, that 
arter a good day's hunt once, an you had killed a fine 
buck, when you saw the old feller come in an stalk across 
Mars. Joe's yard so solemn an dignity like, with his long- 
ears floppin on his shoulders, like Mars. Joe's eperlettes, 
as you said, you made a bow to him, an called him — • 
Major Bock Jones. I think the ole dog would soon git 
permoted to be a kurnel, ef he was here, marster." 

I was as much excited by the sight, I believe, as Buck 
was ; though, as we Greorgians say, I did not ^' show my 
country" so much as he did, and rather tried to look as 
though I was used to it. In a few minutes more we came 
in sight of flocks of the finest sheep and herds of the hand- 
somest and fattest cattle I had ever seen. Then, the grounds 
on either side of us became very beautiful. On my right I 
observed a vista in the forest, which seemed to terminate 
at the top of a gentle hill, on which was situated what 
appeared to be a Grecian temple or portico. On our left 
now appeared a scene of the most perfect sylvan beauty. 
Through the green foliage could be seen an occasional 
statue, and the waters of a fountain sparkling in the fading 
sunlight ; whilst a brawling brook, now burst into a lovely 
waterfall, now ran under a rustic bridge, and then spread 
peac3fully into a quiet little lake, on whose bosom were 
floating some graceful waterfowl. As we came opposite 
to this spot, and it attracted the attention of my servant, 
he exclaimed — " Marster, thar's a spring, sir — a raal 
spoutin spring, sir, comin out of some sort of a varmint's 



44 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

mouth — did you ever?" At that instant he caught sight 
of a statue — '^ Dont look, sir, dont look, marster ! " said 
he, rapidly turning his head in the opposite direction, — 
'^ thar's somebody naked thar, sir — what on yearth is they 
gwine to do, naked thar, sir, this cool day ? " 

^' Its a statue. Buck ; a marble statue, nothing else." 

" Well, raaly ! sure enough, sure enough ! " said he. 

The waterfowl on the lake next excited his admiration. 
'' G-oodness gracious ! marster, look at that gander, with 
a long neck," exclaimed he. 

" That's a swan. Buck," said I. 

" Is hit good to eat, sir ? " 

Here the turrets of the Hall appeared in view, and our 
attention was drawn thitherward, as they appeared above, 
and at times disappeared behind, the trees, according to 
the inequalities of the ground, as we approached. JN'ow we 
came upon the lawn, and then among shrubbery so beau- 
tiful as to beggar description ; and then we rolled up 
before the house, which, I had just time to see, was quite 
imposing, when the carriage stopped, the steps were let 
down, and Mr. A came forward with a hearty greet- 
ing and welcome to both master and servant. 

After a short time spent in conversation with him, a 
bell rang, which I was notified was the dressing-bell, pre- 
vious to dinner. Everybody dresses for dinner in the 
houses of gentlemen here, Major. I was shown to my 
chamber, which I found to be a most luxurious apartment, 
lined with pink paper, and the windows and bed hung 
with rich silk curtains of the same color. My luggage 
had preceded me. A servant was in attendance to receive 
my orders, but almost every comfort had been anticipated. 
The straps of my trunk Avere unbuckled, a fire was burn- 
ing cheerily in the grate, a candle was on the table, water 
in the richest china basins and ewers, and on one side was 
a writing-table, covered with paper, envelopes, wax, etc. 

About 7 o'clock I was summoned to dinner. I had the 
honor of a seat by one of the young ladies, whom I es- 
corted to the table at the request of my host ; and a very 
intelligent and well-bred person I found her. The com- 
pany consisted of Mr. A — ■ — 's family (a wife and several 
daughters), together with several guests; among whom 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 45 

were Lord B. (a relative of the family), Sir C. 0. and 
lady, and several ladies and gentlemen of the neighbor- 
hood. The dinner was as sumptuous as wealth and taste 
could make it, and the company very agreeable. After 
the removal of the cloth, the ladies retired, and the gen- 
tlemen drew nearer together, and talked over the wine 
longer than the state of my health made it desirable for 
me. We discussed the recent Great Exhibition, among 
other things, and this gave me an opportunity of amusing 
my neighbors with the fate of my plough. My descrip- 
tion and imitation of the Squire, who put the final extin- 
guisher upon my hopes, quite '' brought down the house." 

When we went up to the drawing-room, I found the 
ladies very agreeable, and there was some sweet music. 
During the evening, Mr. A insisted upon my repeat- 
ing the story of my plough for the benefit of the ladies ; 
which I did, apparently to their amusement. These 
ladies themselves enticed me into a conversation about my 
family and home, and seemed to feel an interest in learn- 
ing from me details of this kind, so pleasant to me. I 
was sensible that it was very kind and courteous in them. 

About 11 o'clock, I saw that some of the company oc- 
casionally left the room, took up a candle in the entry, 
where a number were placed, with alumettes, etc., for 
lighting, and departed, as I supposed, for their chambers. 
I followed, and retired to my room. A servant announced 
the breakfast hour of the house to me, and I lay down to 
rest, and to dream of a home and its inmates far away, 
as sweet to me as if it were surrounded and filled by the 
luxuries amidst which I was reposing. 

I was at the breakfast-table next morning a little after 
9 o'clock — the breakfast hour being from 9 to 11 ; and 
there found all the family and two or three other persons. 
Each seated himself or herself, as he or she came in, with- 
out ceremony. On the table were several kinds of bread, 
and nice fresh butter. Coffee or chocolate, if either was 
desired, was brought in a small silver coffee-pot, with 
sugar-dish and cream-pot of the same material, and the 
person to whom it was brought helped him or herself. If 
tea were preferred, a silver urn, heated by spirits of wine, 
was placed by the side of the person wishing it, together 



46 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 

with a small silver tea-pot, etc., and a little caddie of 
black and green tea, from which he or she helped him or 
herself, unless it was preferred that a servant should do 
it. On the side-tables were ham, cold chicken, cold game, 
etc., to which most of those present rose and helped 
themselves. By the side of my plate was a morning's 
paper. At the breakfast-table the plan of movements 
for the day was arranged. After consulting me on the 
subject, my host proposed to show me the grounds, crops, 
etc. ; and, learning that I was capable of bringing down 
my bird on the wing, he suggested that the keeper should 
meet us with guns and dogs, and that we should knock 
down a few birds on our way home. Into this segment 
of the circle of our operations Lord B. and two other gen- 
tlemen begged that they might be taken. 

When I went to my room, in order that I might pre- 
pare for my excursion, I found Buck waiting for me, and 
at once saw that there was something on his mind. 
'^ What is the matter ?" said I. 

^^How long are you going to stay here, Marster?" 
said he. 

'^ Two or three days, I suspect. Why do you ask ?" 

'^ Becase I wanted to know, my Marster, ef I could do 
'thout eatin tell we went away. Fact is, Marster, I dont 
adzackly know what to do ; but as to eatin with them 
white ladies an gen'l'men, an with them silver forks, 
too, hit aint in me to do it, an its no use tryin. I couldnt 
do it ef I was gwine to die for not doin it. They tells 
me they's sarvants too, an so I says to myself when I 
sets down 'mong 'em ; but bombye one on 'em, he says to 
me, very perlitely, — for they's all mighty perlite ; I must 
say that, — says he, 'What will you ave, sir?' says he; 
' what will you be elped to, sir ?' says he. An when I 
looks up, an sees all them nice white gals, dressed jest 
like ladies, lookin at me, I jest takes an chokes right 
down, Marster ; an so says I, ' E'o, I'm obleeged to you, 
Marster,' says I, 'I wouldn't choose nothin.' I knowed 
how hit was, sir, but I couldnt help callin sich a genT- 
man-looking white man 'Marster,' to save me; and then 
they all couldnt keep from laffin, though they tried, I 
could see. One of the ladies, then, she tried to do some- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 47 

thin for me, an first thing I knowed I called her ' Missis/ 
an off they all went agin, tell they was red in the face. I 
cant eat with them white people, Marster. I would do 
anything to obey or obleege you, sir, but I'll starve ef I 
stays here long." 

'' Why, I supposed," said I, '^ that you were by this 
time accustomed to associating with white servants in 
London." 

'^ Tell you what, Marster, they wasn't like the sarvants 
here. The men didn't have them long-tailed blues on, 
with lace, and buttons, and eperlettes, and the women 
didn't look so nice and spectable." 

" Never mind," said I, ''I will arrange it all for you ; 
only do try and make yourself as little the object of ridi- 
cule as possible." 

Thereupon I pulled the bell, and taking'the servant into 
my confidence, told him how unaccustomed to eating at 
the same table with white persons my servant had been, 
and how embarrassed he was by it, asked him to give my 
respects to the steward, and request in my name that 
Buck might have his meals apart from the other servants. 
The attendant readily promised that this should be done, 
and Buck was relieved. 

I cannot aff'ord room for an adequate description of the 

park, gardens, and scenery around A Hall. Some 

pleasant winter night. Major, when the children have 
been snugly tucked away, and Mary and Lizzie have 
thrust their small gourds into the little stocking-feet, and 
are darning away against each other as if for a wager, 
and our cigars are lit, and the hickory fire, kindled with 
light-wood knots (they have no such luxury here, Major), 
blazes up cheerfully, I will tell you all about it. I can 
now only say that the park contains more than a thou- 
sand acres, and that the slight sketch I have already 
given you of it has not done it half justice. I do not 
know of what architecture the house is, and if I did you 
would not care much about it ; but this I know — that the 
general eff'ect is most admirable. 

We visited the stables, and there I was greatly inte- 
rested. There were some fifty horses, many of which 
were hunters, exquisite in form, etc., and of very high 



48 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

value. The stalls are well ventilated, and as neat and 
clean as parlor floors. The arrangements for feeding and 
grooming are very fine, and I learned something there by 
which I hope hereafter to profit. We next went to the 
cow-yards, and the dairy ; and there I gathered some new 
ideas for the benefit of our wives, Major. We then pro- 
ceeded to examine the tool-houses, the stack-yards, and 
the sheep-folds ; and taking horse here, we rode into the 
pastures and the fields. We visited scores and scores of 
acres of turnips and other green crops, and I received 
much valuable information from my host, which I propose 
to share with you one of these days. 

At a point which had been designated by my enter- 
tainer we met the gamekeeper, and with him the gentle- 
men whom I have mentioned. There were three or four 
fine dogs, and a gun for each of us. We first shot over 
some stubble-fields, and afterwards entered the preserves, 
where we soon filled our bags. I am but an indifi'erent 
shot, you know ; but I found myself knocking the sluggish 
game over, right and left, with great ease. The bird- 
shooting, especially, was very diff"erent from what you and 
I are accustomed to, when hunting our partridge. Here 
we put up half-a-dozen coveys of partridge or packs of 
pheasants in an hour, and started scores of rabbits. The 
birds are almost double the size of our partridge or quail, 
and are not so swift in flight. If, at home, you and I find 
as many coveys in a day, and after walking many miles, 
we deem ourselves lucky. And when our birds get up, 
they are ofi", like a shot, for the nearest swamp. A few 
separate shots may possibly be had after that, but it will 
have to be bush-shooting. 

One or two of the party killed more game than I ; but 

I had the satisfaction of bagging more than Lord B , 

though he had visited our country (as he said), and had 
shot upon our prairies. The truth is, none of my com- 
panions in sport were very expert marksmen ; and I could 
not help thinking, that, if our friends, Jennings and Daw- 
son, of Augusta, (provided the latter can shoot as well as 
he can talk about it, of which I have my doubts, I con- 
fess,) were turned loose here for a day or two, they would 
soon make deserts of Mr. A 's preserves. 




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BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 49 

We did not return to the Hall, from our morning's 
excursion, until the hour for luncheon had passed. We 
were not forgotten, however ; and, after we had refreshed 
ourselves, were notified, that that meal — which really 
takes the place of the dinner with us, though most of the 
dishes are cold — was ready for us. 

After our lunch, we adjourned to the smoking-room. 
We had just lit our cigars, when I observed that other 
gentlemen, who were tenants of the room and enjoying 
the same luxury, had been attracted to the windows by 
something which seemed greatly to please them. Pre- 
sently I detected Buck's well-known voice, and perceived 
that he was amusing some one outside with an imitation 
of the banjo, as I supposed. The strumming by way of 
interlude, at which I knew he was something of an expert, 
came to my ear very plainly ; and then I could hear his 
*' thrumb-te-thrumb-a-thrumb-te-thrumb-a-thrumb-te- 
thrumb" — so rapidly articulated, that I suspected he was 
giving an imitation of a negro jig. 

"Ah ! what is this ? " said my host, who also joined 
the group at one of the windows ; and his face at once 
assumed the pleased expression which appeared in the 
features of the other spectators. I went to one of the 
windows then myself, and found that the apartment was 
in a wing of the building which opened upon a parterre, 
rich with evergreen shrubbery, (and, I suppose, in due 
season, with brilliant flowers,) and lying between this and 
an opposite wing of the house, in which was situated a 
conservatory, that also opened upon the parterre. Near 

the conservatory, Mrs. A , her daughters, and other 

ladies, were seated ; and on one of the gravelled walks, 
which bordered the parterre. Buck was in the midst of the 
maddest sort of a jig, scattering the gravel, and hurling 
some of it to a distance of many yards, with his broad 
feet. He made music for himself with the voice, accom- 
panied with appropriate fingering on one of the young 
ladies' parasols, which he held in the attitude of a banjo. 
His performance was rapturously applauded; and then 
one of my host's daughters, a pretty young girl, with a 
merry twinkle in her eye, said to him — " Mamma is very 
5 D 



50 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

much, obliged to you Mr. Buck, for the dance : but can't 
you sing for us, Mr. Buck ? " 

Buck. ''To be sure an sartain, young missis, ef I only 
know'd what 'ud suit you. Do you like hymes, missis ? " 

Young Lady. (Looking at the other ladies, who ex- 
changed glances of puzzled inquiry.) '' What was it you 
said, Mr. Buck ? I am not sure that I understood you — 
hy-ems did you say." 

Buck. ''No! hymes, missis : preachin songs — praisin 
God songs, young missis." 

Y. Lady. "Ah ! I understand. No, not sacred songs, 
Mr. Buck. We would prefer a sentimental song, if you 
please." 

Buck. (Puzzled in his turn.) "A what, missis ?" 

Y. Lady. "A song in praise of the ladies, Mr. Buck." 

Buck. "To be sure, to be sure, missis. But in course 
hits 'bout the black fair sect you 'spect a nigger to sing — 
aint it, missis ?" 

Y. Lady. " Of course, Mr. Buck." 

Thereupon Buck thrumbed his fictitious banjo, and sung 
as follows : 

My horse died in Tennessee, 

He sont his jaw-bone back to me, 

Wake, jaw-bone, Miss Sally is the gal ! 
Oh wake, jaw-bone. Miss Sally is the gal ! 

Dat jaw-bone same like banjo ring, 
When to Miss Sally gal I sing 
Wake, jaw-bone, &c. 

Miss Sally 's fat and mighty round ; 
The holler o' her foot make hole in de ground. 
Wake, jaw-bone, &c. 

Buck. '' How you like 'um, young missis V 
Y.Lady. "Oh, thank you — very well, indeed; but can't 
you give us another, Mr. Buck ?' 

BUCK SINGS. 

I sing this song 'bout woolly har, 
Oh, the woolly har ! 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 61 

The buckra gal is mighty far, 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
But still slie no got woolly har 1 

Oh, the woolly har 1 
The buckra gal got long red har, 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
When she put on dress, she put on ar, 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
The yaller gal got coal-black har. 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
She tall, and straight, and mighty spar, 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
But my sweetheart 's got woolly har 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
An none can with that gal compar, 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
I sleeps an dreams 'bout woolly har. 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
An on my heart I wars that har, 

Oh, the woolly har ! 
The woolly har, the woolly har, 

— h, the w-oo-l-l-y har ! 

This sonar was encored, and then one of the ladies 
asked Buck if he could not give them another specimen 
of a dance. 

"• Sartain, Missis," said he, putting down the parasol. 
'' Did you ever see Juba, Missis ?" 

''No," said the lady ; '' we should like to have it, if you 
please." 

But when Buck commenced his preparations, she drew 
back timidly, as if suspecting that she had bargained for 
too much, and was about to witness some cannibal dance 
or other. He began by rapidly patting, or clapping the 
sides of his thighs with the pahns of his hands, and at 
the same time patting his foot, as if to give himself the 
pitch, and then he pitched, feet foremost, into ''Juba," 
accompanying himself with the voice. 

Juba Reed, 
O Juba Reed, 
His seed and breed, 
M'Elhany turn and come I 



[)2 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

I siiit de coon, 

I sint de coon, 

I sint ole har, 

A skippin down 

To Lonnon town, 

To jndg*e de banjo 

Thuni de sonnd. 

I saw de rat 

Run round de flat, 

A bushel o' beans 

Upon his back, 

An ole Ben Dean 

His gander trot : 
Cant he g'it over I 
John-de-butter-in-de-fat, 
Cant you git over that ? 
Cant you git o — ver ? 
Oh, cant you git " 

Just at tliis point, the dancer, whose back had been 
towards the window where I stood, the sash of which was 
raised for the purp)Ose of better witnessing his perform- 
ance, who had not seen me, and did not know, probably, 
that I had returned to the house, turned in his movement, 
so as to catch sight of mo, when he instantly brought up, 
as if struck with paralysis, exclaiming, ^^Boss!" and 
remaining with his mouth upon a wide grin, his right foot 
put forward, the heel thrust into the gravel, with the 
foot itself elevated at an angle of about ninety degrees. 
It looked, sure enough, as though he was answering his 
own question, and couldn't get over that. The immense 
roar of laughter which succeeded was either a testimony 
to his very ridiculous situation, or a tribute to his decided 
success. 

It was phiin that my presence was as a wet blanket to 

his fun ; so I left the window, saying, ^'Ah, Mr. A , 

I am afraid that the ale at his lunch to-day has succeeded 
in lightening my man's heels at the expense of his head." 

'' Why, you don't mean to say with Cicero, ^ nemo so- 
hrius saltat/ do you. Doctor?" 

'' No ; only that the sobrius never throws quite so much 
'Hfe and metal' into his saltat, Mr. A ." 

^' 'Itaque Semproniann reprchendit Salliistius non 
quod saltare, sed quod optivie soirct/ " said Lord B. ; 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 53 

which, being translated for the benefit of the country 
members, Major, is about equivalent to saying that '' Sal- 
lust found fault with Sempronius, not because he knew 
how to dance, but because he did it so elegantly." Very 
neat jest, was it not? Still, all this did not relieve me 
from the apprehension that Buck might be making a fool 
of himself in the eyes of these people." 

I was informed at dinner that he had been very enter- 
taining, though all his performance after he had seen me 
was obviously under restraint, as if he suspected that I 

was observing him from some quarter. Mrs. A said 

that she asked of him the reason for his embarrassment, 
and what do you suppose the rogue answered ? 

" Why you see, Missis," said he, " I promised Miss 
Lizzie to keep good care of my Marster while he was in 
this country, an he's mighty onprudent sometimes. Missis, 
an keeps me oncommon busy puttin him through right ; 
an ef I was to let him see me play in the fool too much, he 
wouldn't think me so spectable like, an might refuse to 
mind me, Missis." 

Mrs. A informed me that, during the morning, she 

had sent for Buck, and had talked with him about our 
slaves, negro life, negro characteristics, etc.; and that 
after lunch she had encouraged him to sing and dance for 
the ladies. 

This afternoon I spent in the library, and among the 
pictures, statuary, etc., in other parts of the house ; of 
which there is a very splendid collection. At night, I 
retired early to my room, that I might write this letter to 
you. To-morrow we are booked for C. Park, to witness 
a run with Sir 0. C.'s hounds. This gentleman has been 
on a visit to this place for the last several days. He left 

this morning, first inviting Mr. A and his guests to 

the hunt, and to dinner to-morrow. If anything takes 
place there worthy of note, you may expect to hear from 
me on the subject. Apologizing for this long letter, I end 
it with the assurance that I am, dear Major, 

Eespectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

To Maj. Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 
5 * 



54 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 



LETTEE VI. 

DR. JONES AND HIS SERVANT JOIN A FOX-HUNT BUCK DIS- 
TINGUISHES HIMSELF ON THE FIELD — IS IN AT THE DEATH, 

AND WINS THE TAIL VISIT TO 0. PARK RECIPE FOR 

COOKING "POSSUM AND PUMPKIN" BUCK'S STORY OF 

UNCLE CUDJO AND THE POSSUM." 

A Hall, November 6th, 1851. 

Dear Major : — Yesterday morning, after quite an 

early breakfast, Mr. A and liis guests, myself and 

Buck among the number, proceeded to the meet of Sir 

C. G.'s hounds. Mr. A was so kind as to mount me 

on one of his swiftest and surest hunters, though I was 
quite willing to bestride a less splendid animal; for I 
had no idea of making an effort to keep up with the hunt. 
Though I account myself a tolerable horseman, yet, to 
say nothing of my health, which may have rendered it 
inexpedient, I had no desire for leaping hedges, ditches, 
etc., where there was any risk attending it. Every man 
to. his vocation. I was not accustomed to the thing, and 
I knew how much of advantage there is in being familiar 
with whatsoever we undertake to accomplish. Buck, who 
was specially invited, made choice of a fleet mare, rather 
against my wishes ; for, though I knew he could ride like 
a wild Indian, yet I thought it seemly that he should be 
more modestly mounted, and I feared that he might be 
after making himself rather conspicuous — an apprehen- 
sion which proved correct. 

At the place of meeting, we found Sir C. 0. and his 
friends, with a large retinue of tenants and neighbors, 
ladies in carriages, etc. More than a hundred horsemen 
were present. The gentlemen generally were dressed in 
bright scarlet coats, white leather breeches, top-boots, 
silver-mounted spurs, and round hats. The m-aster of the 
hunt was the baronet himself. The huntsman and the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 55 

wliippers-in wore short red coats and jockey-caps, and the 
huntsman carried a horn. There was a large number of 
laborers and cottagers on foot. It was evident that the 
fox-hunt was quite an institution of itself in England, and 
I was greatly interested. A pack of fox-hounds was in 
attendance, numbering more than thirty couples. Sir C. C, 
it seems, is celebrated for the excellence of his breed, and 
the condition of his kennel. His dogs have a superin- 
tendent huntsman and assistants. They are fed on scalded 
oat-meal, I was told. The dogs were all under rigid and 
accurate discipline. The huntsman or whippers-in could 
call a dog by name, and he would come out at once from 
the pack. If any quarrelling and fighting occurred, a 
crack from the whip was instantly productive of peace. 

When all was ready, the signal was given, and we 
started. We penetrated into many thick copses, and the 
huntsmen beat about with their whips in various direc- 
tions, until at last a fox was found, and started from his 
cover ; and then away the whole cavalcade went, helter- 
skelter, a scene of mad hurry-scurry and excitement. I 

stuck to Mr. A , who said that he was well acquainted 

with the country, and, by taking advantage of the ground, 
and steering skilfully, could sometimes cut off the chase, 
and thus save me some hard riding. This was just what 
I wished, and I was thus saved some ugly leaps ; though 

as it was, following Mr. A , I thought I did very well 

in that respect several times. At first the pace was rapid. 
The hounds ran well together, and the eff'ect of their 
united voices was very fine. We had emerged from the 
coverts, and gone into the open, as they called it, and for 
some time we had a very exciting race. But presently 
we reached another covert, and here another fox was dis- 
turbed, and the huntsmen missed the first, the fresh fox 
going off at right angles to our first chase, and leading 
us into other coverts, where other foxes were started ; and 
this caused us to go jolting around undecidedly for some 
time, and with the pack very much divided. Sir C. man- 
aged, however, in some way, to bring order out of this 
chaos, and away we went again, men and dogs well toge- 
ther, upon one track. The fox this time was a fine dark- 
looking fellow, and Sir 0. almost lifted him off the ground 



56 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

witli a fierce scream as lie broke away. We followed in 
fine style for half an hour or so, when we came to some 
uneven ground, and Sir G., pulling up for an instant, 
cried out to the nearest whipper-in, ^^ Where's he bound 
thereway, Dick?" 

" Over the river, sir, to the wood, I think. There is 
some open earth there." 

. " We must be there before him, and stop that, if it 
costs our necks," said the baronet, as he rode off" rapidly. 

But Dick, seemed unwilling to go along; and hanging 
back, he cried out, ^^ Have a care, sir; the water's deep 
there, and too wide to jump." 

" Won't I try it, though !" we heard the baronet say, 
as he dashed the spurs into his horse and increased his 
speed. 

Buck, who had been riding along with this whipper-in, 
now sprang to the ground, rapidly slipped his saddle from 
the horse, tied it by stirrup-leathers and girth round his 
shoulders and waist, quickly mounted again, pushed the 
spurs into his mare, and away he went, the only person 
who followed Sir G. 

We rode near enough to see the baronet dash at the 
stream, and strike the water not more than three-fourths 
the distance across ; but his horse carried him gallantly 
through. Buck presently reached the bank, and pulled 
up short. He had not looked for that — but his blood was 
heated with the excitement, and he instantly turned 
his mare to a short distance, drove the spurs into her, 
and slap he went, into the swampy mud on the other side. 
A cheer from Sir C, who had turned his head to watch 
him, greeted the successful efi'ort, and Buck scrambled 
through the meadows, and was soon at his side upon dry 
ground. The fox was headed, and turned up the stream, 
along which, on our side, we rode until we reached a 
bridge, which we crossed, and followed the chase. The 
fox doubled presently, and we were all brought together 
again. Buck continued to ride near Sir C, and took 
every leap which he did. After about half an hour, the 
fox was put into a thick hedge-row, and had us at fault 
for a few minutes, when out he came, on our side, and a 
'' Tally-ho 1" from Mr. A brought attention to him. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 57 

The baronet and Buck, who were on the other side, both 
put at the hedge. This time the baronet went clear ; but 
Buck's mare bothered, and down they went, rolhng over 
together. They both quickly scrambled up, however ; and 
to my great satisfaction, I saw Buck swing his saddle 
round, it having gotten in front of him, and lightly mount 
again. We scampered away then along the side of a 
hill, into a thick wood, from which we soon emerged, and 
away we went, all very much together, through a pretty 
piece of open. Here the whole field cheered Buck, who 
was still riding near the baronet, and now without his 
hat, having lost it in his tumble, and being at the time 
under too much excitement to stop and look for it. 

We came again, after a little time, among the hedges 
and fields ; and again Sir 0. and Buck rapidly took the 
lead — Sir C. occasionally trying the stuff of which his 
sable neighbor was made, as he subsequently informed us, 
by taking some rasping leaps. 

''By Jove, sir !" said the baronet, ''I make no doubt 
but the man would have put his mare at the steeple of St. 
Paul's, if he had seen me preparing to try it. He is 
plucky, sir; plucky as the mare he rode." 

After an hour or so more of heavy pursuit, the fox was 
run into. The baronet and Buck were the first on the 
spot. A few others arrived in time to claim the honor of 

being in at the death. When Mr. A and I arrived, 

the crisis was passed, and the fox was given to the dogs — • 
all except the tail ; which Sir C. had insisted on wreathing 
as a trophy into the red bandanna handkerchief with which 
Buck had bound up his head in the absence of his hat. He 
was a comical figure to look at. He was covered from 
head to foot with mud and dirt, the saddle continued 
to swing from his shoulders, and the handkerchief and 
fox-tail were only needed to complete the picture. He 
gave effect to it by being apparently unconscious that he 
was such a figure of fun, and by showing his brilliant 
teeth in an ecstacy of delight. 

We had a long ride back to C. Park, and I was very 
much fagged out by the time we arrived there. I must 
confess that I was fully satisfied never again to seek sport 
in an English fox-hunt. The chase, however, was very 



58 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR; 

mucli enjoyed by all my companions. It was declared to 
be a famous good thing ; and all united in laughing at 
Buck's riding, and in praising his pluck. 

The dinner was very much like that A Hall. 

There was a little more of display, and very much more 
of hilarity ; but the latter may have been owing to the 
exciting events of the (Jay. After the ladies had retired, 
our host had Buck sent for, and proposed that he should 
join us in drinking a glass of punch to his health, first 
stirring his own with the tail of the captured fox. 

'^ You have been much accustomed to riding, my man," 
said the baronet. 

'^ Well you see, Marster, I been use to ridin sense I 
was so high " (holding his hand about three feet from the 
floor). ''I been use to breakin all Marster 's colts, sir; 
and I is jest fool enough to think I can do what any other 
man kin on a horse's back, perwided I haint pestered 
with a saddle, sir. So, when I seed you takin the shine 
off of everybody in the hunt, and that none on um was 
gwine to take a brush with you, sir, I jest tuk the saddle 
off the mar, and put after you with a sharp stick myself 
sir, for the honor of old G-eorgy, Marster." 

" Well, the honor of old Georgia has suffered nothing 
in your hands, my man. But don't you join the hunt 
sometimes in your country ?" 

^^ Our marsters sometimes hunts deers and foxes, sir; 
but we black folks never hunts any varmints but rabbits 
and possums, Marster." 

^^ Opossums; aha!" said the baronet; and then, ad- 
dressing himself to me, " they are abundant in your 
country, Doctor ?" 

" Not so much so," said I, ''as in Australia ; but still, 
in sufficient numbers to constitute quite an object of sport 
with our slaves, who hunt them at night, and by torch- 
light, and with whom they are quite a favorite article of 
food." 

'' What do they taste like ?" said he to Buck. 

''Like fat pig, Marster; only more piggerer than pig 
heself — cepin when they's cooked in a punkin, sir." 

" Cooked in a pumpkin ! How is that ?" 

"Why you see, Marster, that's one of the ways we 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 59 

black folks haves of cookin possum; an powerful good 
way it is, too." 

'' Pray tell us how that's done," said the baronet. 
''Well, Marster, you must ketch your possum, you 

know " 

'' That, at all events," interrupted the baronet, '' is be- 
ginning according to Mrs. Glass. I have no doubt but 
that it is very good. Go on, sir." 

'' Yes, sir. As I was say in, when you have kotch him 
an cleaned him, jest take a punkin, bout big enough to 
lay him in comftably, Marster, thout dublin him up too 
much, sir ; then take a knife an cut your punkin through 
the middle, all round, in an out, sir, so that when you 
take it apart each half has sorter teeth like ; then clean 
your punkin out, sir, put your possum in, sprinkle some 
salt an pepper on him, — raal kyan pepper, ef you's got it, 
sir, — then put your punkin together agin close, an like it 
was fore you tuk it apart ; then put it in the fire, an kiver 
it over with ashes an live coals, an let it stay an roast a 
good many hours — the longer the better, so you don't let 
it burn. Arter it's done, sir, you kin take it out, an wipe 
it clean, an let it cool a little ; an when you open it sir, 
it's amost the nicest thing that ever you did eat. You 
see, sir, the possum's sorter sorbed the punkin, an the 
punkin's sorbed the possum, tell, I declar pint blank, 
sir, ef you shet your eyes, you can't say which is the pos- 
sum an which the punkin." 

"■ I haven't a doubt in the world of it now," said the 
baronet, '' and will maintain it a2:ainst all comers." 

'' Yes, sir. One Mars. Bob Martin larnt me how to 
cook it that way, sir. Some o' them Green County nig- 
gers larnt him, he said." 

'' But supposing you haven't got a pumpkin for your 
opossum, my man; what then?" said the baronet. 
" Then we jest roasts him dry so, Marster." 
''Aha ! dry so ; and is it really good, dry so ?" 
" So good, Marster," said Buck, " that the only time 
I been steal anything sense I was a child, was when I 
stole some roast possum-meat, sir. Ef you could ford to 
listen to me, Marster, and the gen'l'me?!, I'd tell you 
bout it," said he, his tongue now wagging under the 



60 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

stimulus of his fox-tail punch, though he looked distrust- 
ingly at me. 

'**By all meauB/* cried the company, "lot u^^ have Mr. 
Buck's possum story." 

I glanced consent. 

"Well, ^^enVvien,** he said, ''Avhen I was bout a man 
grown, 1 staid in the same cabin with one o' Marster's olo 
niggers, named Uncle Oudjer." [Old Cudjo, whom you no 
doubt well remember, Major.] "Well, one night Undo 
Cudjer he was gwine a possum-hunt in, an he axed me to 
go long with him ; but I had son\e other tish to fij that 
night, "an so I wouldn't go with him. But Uncle Cudjer 
he'^went an kotch a possum right soon, for he allers could 
do it. Somehow anuther, Avhen he an ole King went out 
to hunt for um, the possums stood no more chance than a 

stump-tail b than a ole red fox with you arter him, I 

mean, Marster." [Bowing to the baronet.] "An so ho 
brought his possum home, cleaned it, put his pepper and 
salt on it, put it in his little oven, made fire onder it, an 
then, bein he w^as sorter tired by this time, he went last 
to sleep. "Well, late at night 1 come home ; an when I 
went in, thar was the ole man, sound asleep. I raised \ip 
the led of the little oven, an pilf — paff — out thar come 
sich a nice, rich, roast -pig sort o* smell, hit made my 
mouth farly water agin. The possum was done elegant ; 
an then close by the ole man's platter was a nice corn 
dodger, waitin for the possum. Hit was late sense sup- 
per, I had had a long walk in the cool night ar, an waa 
raal hungry, an the "sight was too much for my vartue, 
Marster."^ 1 tuk the ole man's possum, sir, I did, (hit 
warn't very big, sir,) an eat it all up. Then I tuk some 
o'the grease, an sorter saftly rubbed it all over his mouth, 
sir, an over his hands, sir, an then I washed my own, an 
laid down an went to sleep myself. Bombye, Uncle Cudjer 
he waked up. he did, and looked tor his possum, an sure 
enough hit warn't thar. Then he shuck me, he did, tell 
he waked me \ip. * Ton Buck,' sap he, * you gran lascal, 
you been tiefy my possum — heh ? Git up ; I gwine lick 
you, you infarnal tief, you !' 

'* * \Vhy what's matter, Uncle Cudjer ?* says I. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 61 

'' ' You tiefy my possum, I say — you been eat my pos- 
sum, sar." 

'' Why Uncle Cudjer, what's matter ? Ai'e you crazy ?" 
says I. '^ You been eat your possum yc^self. Jest look 
at your hands and your mouth," says I. 

Uncle Cudjer, he looked at his hands, then he drawed 
the back of one on um cross his mouth, then he put both 
on um upon his stomach. 

'' Gor-a-mighty !" says he, ''wat dis? Me harn say 

I been eat um, me mouf say I eat um, me tumach say 

he dam lie !" 

Under cover of the applause which Buck's story elicited, 
I suggested to him that it was a good time to withdraw ; 
which hint he was not slow in taking. 

We had a merry evening, and joined the ladies at a late 
hour. These latter I found to be very gentle and at- 
tractive. The truth is. Major, the nobility and gentry of 
this country, as a class, are perhaps the most refined and 
intellectual in the world. The concentration of immense 
wealth in, and the passage of it through, the hands of the 
same family for generations, affords opportunities of cul- 
tivating tastes, and creating material comforts, which 
serve, in these respects, to place the class of which I am 
speaking far in advance of anything with which we are ac- 
quainted. In extensive and magnificent luxury, in style, in 
arrangements for domestic and household comforts, in the 
beauty of grounds, and the grandeur of public works, we 
can bear no comparison with this country. But I am afraid 
that the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, 
(by comparison,) which is the main-spring of all these 
results, at the same time causes more or less of an abstrac- 
tion of it from the hands of the many ; and thus produces 
such a disturbance in the laws of harmony which regulate 
the body politic, as must in some way lessen the advan- 
tages, and affect the happiness of the masses who com- 
pose it. This seems to be the logical inference. I hope 
that experience may convince me of its inaccuracy. It 
will certainly give me great pleasure to find that there is 
no reason whv I should re2;ret the existence of a state of 
things which is productive of so m^any pleasant and excel- 
lent persons — so many true ladies and gentlemen. 
6 



62 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

To-day I returned to A Hall. To-morrow, or next 

day, I shall leave for London. Meantime, I am. 
Very respectfully, 

Y'r ob't serv't and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, (la., U. S. of America. 



LETTEE VII. 

BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY AND MRS. STOWE 

SPEECHES AT THE MEETING OF THIS SOCIETY, BY PROF. 

STOWE AND REV. S. WARD, (A NEGRO,) AND COMMENTS OF 
BUCK THEREUPON — -BUCK AMUSES HIMSELF WITH A PART 
OF THE AUDIENCE. 

London, June 1st, 1853. 

Dear Major : — In a letter written last month, I gave 
you some account of Mrs. Stowe's movements, and of the 
excitement on the subject of slavery which her presence 
has caused in England and Scotland. She has now made 
her appearance in London, and has been honored by all 
classes in the metropolis. 

On Monday evening, the 16th of May, the British and 
Foreign x\nti-Slavery Society held their annual meeting 
at Exeter Hall; and she and her staff, viz., Prof. Stowe, 
(her husband,) Charles Beecher, (her brother,) and the 
Eev. Samuel Ward, (a blackamoor from Canada,) were the 
leading cards played upon that occasion. Owing to the 
expected presence of Mrs. Stowe, there was a very 
crowded assembly, and numbers were unable to obtain 
admittance. By making an early start, however, Buck 
and I were there in time to procure a convenient seat. I 
took Buck along, not only because I was in the habit of 
taking him with me very frequently to places of amuse- 
ment in London, but because I hoped that, if I found the 
demand for seats greater than the supply, his black face, 
on that particular occasion, might be of service in pro- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 63 

curing me admittance and a desirable position. Altliougb. 
we obtained rather a modest place in one of the galleries, 
yet Buck was put down, I suppose, by all who observed 
him, as having something to do with the occasion ; and 
this created such a sensation in his neighborhood as 
caused him to show his great white teeth with delight. 

I will furnish you with an account of the proceedings 
as they were published in the London Observer of the 
23d of May last ; omitting, for brevity's sake, the rather 
long speech of the Earl of Shaftsbury, who presided over 
the meeting, and addressed it, so soon as it was organized. 



''BRITISH AND FOREIGN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. 

On Monday evening, the annual meeting- of this Society was 
held in Exeter Hall. Owing to the expected presence of Mrs. 
H. B. Stowe, there was a most inconveniently crowded attend- 
ance, and numbers of persons were unable to gain admittance. 

The Earl of Shaftesbury presided. 

The Secretary attempted to read the report, but, in conse- 
quence of the impatience of the meeting, confined himself to 
briefly stating the income and expenditure of the Society for 
the past year. 

The Rev. J. B. Browne moved the adoption of the report, 
and the appointment of the Committee for the ensuing year. 
[Whilst he was speaking, Mrs. H. B. Stowe entered one of the 
side galleries, and the assembly rose and cheered her loudly 
for several minutes.] 

The Rev. W, Arthur seconded the resolution, which was 
dnanimously adopted. 

Mr. Joseph Sturge read the names of the Committee, and 
of the corresponding members of the Society: viz., Professor 
Stowe, of Massachusetts [cheers], Charles Beecher [cheers], 
and Samuel Ward, of Canada [cheers]. 

The Rev. W. Brook moved the resolution that the mainte- 
nance of slavery in a Christian community was a disgrace to 
humanity, a dishonor to civilization, and an outrage U; on reli- 
gion ; and that Christians of all denominations should raise 
their voice to condemn an iniquity so monstrous, and " to em- 
ploy all moral and pacific means to effect its removal." 

The Rev. Samuel Ward, of Canada (a negro), seconded the 
resolution, and was received with applause. He argued 
strongly against a principle which had been laid down, that 



64 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

money compensation should be made to slaveholders as a con- 
dition of the emancipation of their slaves, and stigmatized it 
as a compounding: of sin, and declared that a slaveholder who 
freed his slave was only a repentant sinner, and was no more 
entitled to be paid in money for his repentance than any other 
sinner. He maintained that the cotton trade of England 
nourished the slave labor of America. He urged that slavery 
in America was maintained more by the guilty neglect of the 
North than the positive acts of the South ; for the North had 
always had a majority in Congress, and had assented to all the 
laws relating to slavery which had been passed there. He 
then contended that this conduct of the people in the North 
arose from the feeling and prejudice against all negroes in the 
United States ; and in speaking of negro pews in churches 
and chapels, said he knew ministers who had lately been at 
meetings in that hall who had such pews in their churches. He 
related an anecdote of one William Hamilton, a negro, who, 
being refused by a minister the administration of the commu- 
nion before whites, became an atheist; while, on the other 
hand, he related an anecdote of the conversion of a negro 
woman by means of a lady who had no such prejudices, and 
declared that negro woman to have been his own wife [cheers]. 
He stated that, so great was the prejudice, that a negro who, 
at the battle of Bunker's Hill, had greatly distinguished him- 
self, was always placed in the background, behind the whites, 
in all the pictures of that battle. He stated also that, on his 
coming to England, Mr. Cunard had refused to allow him to 
take his meals with the other passengers on board the steamer, 
out of deference to the prejudices of Americans ; and stated 
that to be an illustration of the influence of slaveholders even 
upon Englishmen. The reverend gentleman made altogether 
a very powerful and effective speech, and sat down amidst loud 
applause. 

Mr. Alexander here read apologies for absence from Lord 
Carlisle and from Count Lavradio, the Portuguese Ambas- 
sador. 

The resolution was carried unanimously. 

Professor Stowe, who was received with great cheering, 
read the next resolution, which declared it to be the duty of 
the opponents of slavery " to develop the national resources 
of countries where slavery does not exist, and the soil of which 
is adapted to the growth of products — especially of cotton — 
all or partially raised by slave labor ; that, in all cases where 
it is practicable, a decided preference should be given to the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 65 

products of free labor, by all who protest aj^ainst slavery." 
His (Professor Stowe's) health would disable hira from ad- 
dressing them at length, but he had to make a few observa- 
tions. At the close of the American Revolutionary War, all 
their States were slaveholding States. But the Bill of Rights 
declared all men free and equal ; and a slave in Massaclmsetts 
was advised, under the Bill of Riglits, to bring an action for 
wages ; and having obtained a verdict in his favor, slavery at 
once fell to the ground in that State. In the Convention, 
Jefferson, Madison, and others from the South, were so sensi- 
tive on the subject that they would not allow the word slave to 
appear in any of their proceedings, and Franklin participated 
in that feeling. Jay, Hopkins, and Edwards promulgated it 
from the pulpit, aud no one then would support slavery. When 
he (Professor Stowe) was a boy, black children were in the 
same school with him in Massachusetts ; and, though some 
prejudice had existed, the state of things was not then as it 
is now. In 1820, the great assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church passed a resolution against slavery. But that feeling 
was now changed. What had changed it ? It was the pro- 
fitableness of the cotton trade, and nothing else [hear]. It 
was that which spread the chain of slavery over the IJnion 
[hear]. What right, then, had Great Britain to interfere, 
when she sustained four-fifths of American slavery by taking 
four-fifths of the American cotton [hear] ? A Charleston 
newspaper had justly said that " the world depended on the 
cotton of America, and that cotton fought and conquered for 
Southern slavery." Here, then, was a great work for England 
to do ! The price for cotton regulated the price of slaves, and 
slaves were worth from £100 to £200 each, and, in order to 
stock a cotton plantation, it took 100, 200, 300, and even 400 
slaves. What an amount of capital was required ! Here was 
the point at which free labor, such as had been found in the 
importation of Chinese, could contend with slave labor ; and 
Great Britain should encourage the growth of free-labor cot- 
ton. There were three ways by which slavery in the United 
States could be abolished — first, by bloody revolution, which 
no one desired; secondly, by persuading slaveholders that the 
system was wrong, and that they should give it up ; and 
thirdly, by making slave labor unprofitable as compared with 
free labor. Let free labor be encouraged ; and if cotton con- 
sumers did not get rich so fast by free as by slave labor, let 
them practise a little of the self-denial which they ask slave- 
holders to practise. He had visited England seventeen years 
6 * E 



66 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

ago, and he found it now much improved, and a strong feeling 
of philanthropy existed amongst the higher towards the labor- 
ing classes. He concluded by expressing his hope, though he 
did not expect to live to see it, that slavery would be soon 
abolished in America. He would live and die laboring in the 
cause of abolition [cheers]. 

Mr. C. Beecher seconded the resolution, which was carried 
unanimously. 

Mrs. Stowe and her husband and brother here retired amidst 
loud acclamations. 

Colonel P. Thompson then moved a resolution deprecating 
the American laws in favor of slavery, — especially the "fugi- 
tive slave law," — and recognizing the new spirit infused into 
the literature of the day, " holding up slavery to universal 
reprobation." 

The resolution was carried unanimously, and the meeting 
separated. 

Well, you may imagine, Major, that it was as much as 
I could do to sit still, and hear and witness all that was 
there said and done. I doubt if I should have succeeded 
in doing so, but for the amusement which Buck's wag- 
gish looks and comments afforded. By the time of this 
meeting, he had grown accustomed to going into public 
assemblies with me upon something of equal terms with 
those present, and he did not have that air of embarrass- 
ment which at first he wore when compelled by the crowd 
to place himself immediately by my side. Even here he 
contrived to keep himself somewhat in the background ; 
not so much so, however, but that I could see the comi- 
cal expression of his face occasionally, when enjoying, as 
I really do believe he did, the impression which he p)er- 
ceived the whole affair was making on me. His running 
commentaries on the proceedings amused not only me, 
but all who were in hearing of him. 

When his reverence, the black preacher, was descant- 
ing upon the prejudices of our ISTorthern people agaiust 
negroes, Buck exclaimed, sotto voce, but still loud enough 
to be heard all around him, yet with the utmost gravity, 
and looking fixedly at the speaker, 

" Dat first-rate gemmon say belly true — white buclo'a 
allers hate nigger till da git usen to smell um." 



BILLY BUCKS VT^:iT TO ENGLAND. 67 

And when the same reverend gentleman complained 
of the separate pews and galleries reserved for colored 
people in the churches, " Ki !" said Buck, '' dat gemrnon 
talk all sem like fool now. He no know dat cost too 
much for buckra to set longside nigger — dem brokee de- 
sef buyin smeUin-bottle." 

Again, when Mr. Stowe advised the production of free- 
labor cotton, as the most effectual method of overthrow- 
ing slavery. Buck chuckled mightily, and exclaimed " Dat 
buckra gemmon talkee de fool now hesef. Wa da been 
gwine git anybody able to work in cotton-field, in briUn 
hot sun, but black nigger ? I want know dat ! An 
wa de debbil da gwine find nigger wid head to work wid- 
out buckra man to show um? or dat gwine be willin, 
cepin he druv?" 

Notwithstanding the occasional play of Buck's drollery, 
when I heard it resolved by Englishmen and Scotchmen 
'Hhat slavery was a disgrace to humanity, a dishonor to 
civilization, and an outrage upon religion," and that it 
should be held up ''to universal reprobation," I began to 
feel that this was getting rather personal, and I found 
myself repeating the old saw, that " those who live in 
glass houses should not throw stones," and to think that 
this nation should be slow to hold up any other people to 
reprobation on account of faults in their social system, 
as that was " a game which two could play at," and their 
side might not always have the " innings." 

I lingered near the outer doors of the hall after the 
meeting had adjourned, for the purpose of having a closer 
view of Mrs. Stowe. I somehow failed in this. But as 
we stood there, a party of several ladies and gentlemen 
stationed themselves near us, perhaps for the same pur- 
pose, possibly attracted by Buck, whom they may have 
been observing, or whom they may have imagined con- 
stituted a part of the '' fire-works " of the evening. 
Buck's spirit of mischief was excited so soon as he dis- 
covered that their attention was directed to him. Some 
one hard by spoke of pickpockets, and of the propriety 
of being on guard against them in such a crowd. 

'' Massa," said Buck, taking off' his hat, and speaking 
80 as to be heard by the party to whom I have referred, 



(^8 THE SLAVKIlOl.lMvK AlUvOAD ; OK, 

and casting a ^"lanoo of aLirm upon persons near him, 
"hoar dat ?" 

2li/Siit\ " Hoar ^vllat, Buck ?" 

Buck. " Hoar ^vhat dom buokra men say ? Dom say 
de tiofs about." 

^fi/sclt\ '* It don't n\aiior. 1 loi't my valuables at our 
]odii:ings, and have none with me." 

i^ueX\ '*Wat dat you say, Massa? You no call mo 
valbles ? Ainty Massa nigi^er valble ? — what for da no 
liety me? [Taking hold of one of my skirts, and turning 
to a hidy who stood near him, and addressing her with 
UToat courtesy and earnestness.] " Missis, vou tink da 
would tiefy dis nigger ?" 

Jfi/sclf. ''Pshaw, Buek, what do you mean?" 

It haa occurred to mo that Buciv was attempting some 
very dull fun ; but at this instance I caught sight of his 
face, and I saw at once that there was something better 
in prospect, so I gave him an encouraging look. A pale 
ana solemn gentleman standing by, with a white ci*avat, 
and otherwise looking like a dissenting minister, now 
said to Buck, " What would the thieves want with you in 
this country, my man?" 

This openiui^ was precisely what Buck was wanting. 

Buek, [Witli ailected surprise.] " ^Vant wid me, Mas- 
sa ? Ainty dis Inglis people been tiefy slave ? Ainty da 
fadder been tioty my ladder, an sell *um in Chariest own ? 
Ainty de ladder been tiefy de ladder for make him slave? 
AVhat fordo son no tietV do son, for make him free? 
Heh?" 

This produced not a little merriment among the by- 
standers. Avho had by this time increased; but they looked 
as though they were puzzled in the effort to comprehend 
Buck, and to tell whether he w^as jesting or not. The 
same solemn gentleman said, '^ You are a slave, then ?" 

Buck. '' To be sure, to be sure. Massa ! An I want to 
stay slave. Missis," [again turning to the lady, in whose 
eye he now saw encouragement.] '* Missis, you fadder 
tiefy my ladder for him to live in good country, me feared 
yvHi people tiefy Massa nigger for him to live in dis mean 
country — ^mean all sem as gar-broth — beg pai'don, Missis, 
ef you blongs to hit." 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 69 

La/ly. "Why do yon tViink thi^ country bo mean, rny 
man ?"' 

Buck. " Moan ! lie moan for true. lie mean, Min-sis, 
caHe he people talk ro much bout Borry for poor nigger, 
all time da kill one anudder, an killee da wife, an killee 
da chile. How come, ef da 80 Borry for poor nigger, da 
no Horry for poor buckra? How come da got no feelin 
for da wimminB, for poor pickininny, for da little chil'n ? 
How come dem buckra men killee da wife, dem wife killee 
da husband, an dem moBcr killee da chile? I want know 
dat ! Hell? How come da no gib ebely body nuff to 
eat ? Heh ? You come to Georgy, MisniB ; ebely body 
got plenty to eat da, an nobody hurt wimins an chiFn. 
No, no ; da don't do dat much in Gruinea country, cepin 
to eat um." 

Lady. [Forgetting, or not having noticed, that Buck 
liad (in words) only attributed the paternity of his fathers 
to Africa.] '' What ! were they cannibals in your 
country ?" 

Buck. ''No, not Hannibals; new nigger — Ebo nigger, 
Missis." 

Lady. '' I mean, did they eat people there ?" 

Buck. '' Dat trute. Missis ; da eat people da for true ! 
An belly good eatin da is, too ; speshly dem lilly picki- 
ninny nigger, — lilly baby nigger, — when da fat." 

Lady. ''Oh, horrible! Did they really eat children?" 

Buck. [Smacking his lips, and looking voracious.] " Dat 
trute for true. Missis. You see. Missis, da's some scuse 
for killin pickininny when you hongry, and eat um. But 
you people kill um an no eat um ; an I call dat great 
wase, in country wha so many people all time tarvin. Dat 
make me say he mean country, Missis, an tank God in 
my player dat rnc live in better country, wha we's better 
people." 

" But do you ever thank God in the right way, my 
man, for your blessings? Do you ever pray to him in 
the right spirit?" said the dissenting minister of whom 
I have spoken. 

Buck. "Ainty I been tell Missis, Massa, how I tank 
God in my player dat I no bad and hongry like you poor 
Inglia buckra?" 



70 THE SLAVESOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

Here the burst of merriment on the part of all except 
the solemn minister was uprorious. That gentleman, 
nothing daunted, returned to the charge. 

Clergipnan. '^Ah, my friend, that is not the right 
spirit of prayer ; that is too much like the Pharisee in 
the temple — of whom, perhaps, you have heard. You 
should thank God for your blessings, but confess yourself 
a- miserable sinner in his sight, and pray to be made 
better." 

Buck. '' Ki, Massa ! What for me play dat lie to God ? 
He know better — he know me no miserable sinner — me 
Clistian man." 

The solemn gentleman shook his head doubtfully and 
solemnly amidst the hearty laughter of the bystanders. 

''Ha!" said Buck, ''you no tink me Clistian, Massa? 
Bible say, sarch me an know me heart, try me an know 
me toughts. If you know do dat, how you been gwine 
tell me no Clistian, heh?" And as the solemn minister 
moved away from his " hard customer," Buck cried out 
after him, with great earnestness, " Joe's dead, ef me aint 
Clistian, Massa !" 

On the next day there was a soiree at Willis's Booms, 
St. James Street, gotten up at the instance of this same 
Anti-Slavery Society, for the purpose of presenting an 
address to Mrs. Stowe. I send you a copy of the pro- 
ceedings, where you will see more of the hosh of which 
the Stowes, like true Yankees, have availed themselves in 
making a good thing out of their capital. 

Your friend and cousin, 

To Major Jones, P. Jokes. 

Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 71 



LETTER VIII. 

SOCIAL PROFLIGACY OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE ST. ALBAN'S 

ELECTION ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COxMMISSION. 

London, June IGtli, 1853. 

Dear Major : — Buck was right when he intimated, 
as you will perceive from my last he did, after his manner, 
that it is a great humbug, for a people so steeped in crime, 
in profligacy, in poverty and wretchedness, as are the in- 
habitants of this United Kingdom, to set themselves up 
as critics and reformers among the nations. It is indeed 
ridiculous for a people, so overwhelmed with social evils, 
to talk loftily about " holding " our Slave States " up to 
universal reprobation " ; and to encourage their good and 
noble ladies in the attempt to excite the women of our 
Sta-tes upon the subject of slavery. To show you how 
very unwise it is on the part of those who are hurling 
such missiles from that immense glass-house, the social 
system of Great Britain, I will proceed to furnish you, 
and through you such of our friends as you may permit 
(without printing) to read them, some of the results of 
my observation and experience during the last two years. 

One of the features in the character of this people, which 
has impressed me most painfully, is, what may properly 
be called social profligacy. I use this term in a very 
general sense : a sense which embraces corruption of moral 
principles, and looseness of moral conduct. So far as 
manners, personal habits, and chastity, are concerned, 
there has been a great improvement in this country, cer- 
tainly, since the days of Tom Jones and Peregrine Pickle. 
And I would not be understood as meaning to say, that 
among the higher classes of society (and in this term I 
desire that the better sort of what is called the middle 
class should be included) in this country, there is to be 
found that license of speech and of morals which prevailed 



'O 



7 A THE SLAVEnOLDEll ABROAD; OR, 

in former years. That such looseness of morals among a 
very large portion of this society, and among some of the 
higher classes, does still prevail, to a most disgusting ex- 
tent, I do insist, and expect to show in due time. On the 
other hand, I am free to admit, that there are no people 
on earth more refined in manners and virtuous in conduct, 
so far as regards the relations between the sexes, than, 
as a general rule, the nobility and gentry and a large pro- 
portion of the middle class of society in this country are. 
But I wish to be understood now as plainly saying to you, 
that, whilst there has been an improvement upon the 
coarseness and the vice of the last century in certain 
directions, there still prevails a high degree of social 
depravity among the people of this country. It is mani- 
fested in the corruption of their system of suffrage ; in the 
vice of betting or gambling, more especially upon horse- 
races : in the i^-norance of the masses : in the amount and 
character of the crimes committed; in the number of 
abandoned women of the town ; the number of illegitimate 
children ; the profligate intercourse of the sexes ; the de- 
graded moral character, generally, of the lower classes, 
and the great number of juvenile delinquents. 

Let us begin with their elections — the source in a free 
government (which this professes to be) from which many 
of the streams that give life and character to the body- 
politic must flow. 

The corrupt moral tone of large masses of this popula- 
tion is indicated by the systematic bribery which is prac- 
tised in their elections. The bribed, though not the very 
lowest of the low (because in such case they would not 
probably be electors) are not among the more elevated 
ranks of society. But who are the bribers, and whose is 
the money ? The immediate agents of the candidates are 
atto^rneys or solicitors, as the general rule ; and they em- 
ploy subordinate agents, who again subordinate their 
instruments. At the top of this scale, those engaged are 
entitled by law to write themselves gentlemen, perhaps, 
and belong for the most part to the middle classes ; those 
at the other end are of the same class with the voters — 
possibly lower in the social scale. Yet all of these per- 
sons are, in fact and in law, but the agents and instru- 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 73 

ments of the candidates, who come, as the general r le, 
from the aristocracy of birth or of wealth. And the part 
these latter play is only the more despicable because of its 
hypocrisy. They are, in almost all instances, careful not 
to mix themselves up with bribery or illegal solicitations ; 
and it seems quite the fashion for them to insist, when 
coming down with the cash, which they well know will be 
employed in bribery (I dare say their tongues are in their 
cheeks the while), that it shall, by no means, be illegally 
employed. But they take very good care not to interfere 
with their agents, and not to inquire what is or has been 
done with the money. Thus all classes share the evil, 
and its consequent moral degradation. Of course there 
are exceptions to this rule — highly honorable exceptions. 
Indeed, I do not mean to say that the practice is univer- 
sal, but only that it prevails to 'such an extent in the 
kingdom as greatly to affect its moral character. I will 
give you some of the proofs. 

In the year 1850, (I believe,) Mr. Jacob Bell was elected 
a member of Parliament by the borough of St. Albans. 
He was charged by his opponent with having procured 
his election by illegal means. An Act was accordingly 
passed by the House of Commons, appointing commis- 
sioners to inquire into the matter and report. On Mon- 
day, the 27th of October, 1851, that Commission met, and 
entered on the investigation. It continued its session 
from day to day, for many days. The result was, a re- 
port unfavorable, both to the candidate and to the 
borough. He was unseated, and it was disfranchised. 
I propose to send you some extracts, taken from the pro- 
ceedings of that Commission, and published in a London 
newspaper, serving to show how the system to which I 
have referred is managed in this country. I can only 
send you a portion of the proceedings, as the whole would 
occupy too much time and space. 



"ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION. 

First Day. Monday, Oct. 2Y. — Tliis morning this long- 
expected inquiry was opened in the Town Hall, at St. Albans, 
by Messrs. F. W. Slade, W. Forsyth, and T. Phinn, Commis- 
7 



74 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABT10AT> ; OR, 

sionors Mp|n)!nlod by nn Act pnssod last session, onlitleil 'An 
Act appoiutinu" (\>niini8sionors {o inquire into llio oxistonce of 
bvilHM'v in the biM-onu'li of St. Albans. Shortly before tho 
openinu' oi' the eonrt. Mr. l>ell, the sittini;- member, entered, 
and look his sent near (he (\immissioners. The court waa 
luueh erowded. and several jokes respeetinp^ 'Bell-metal' and 
' Sovereign-alley ' were oeeasii)nally audible. 
. ]\lr. Siade said ihat tliis inquiry would, in tho first instance, 
be limited to the proceedini;"s at the last eleetion ; but the act 
gave powers to inquire into an abnost unlimited period. AH 
persons couductinp: themselves properly would bo allowed to 
bo present durinp,- the examination of the witnesses; but it 
was highly inexpedient to print and }mblish anything that 
might atVeet tho character of persons, and it would be some- 
what indecent that the evidence on which the Commissioners' 
report was to be founded should go forth be*'ore tho Oommis- 
sioners had formed their own conclusions, ami had reported to 
the Queen. If. therefore, this rule against prenmturely pub- 
lishing the evidence were infringed upon, it wouUl be the Com- 
missioners' duty thenceforth to conduct the inquiry with closed 
doors. Mr. Slade then stated that, under the tth section of 
the Act, the Commissioners could compel tho attendance of 
witnesses and tho production of documents, and could compel 
answers to all questions ; in fact, the Legislature had conferred 
very extraordinary powers upon this Comnnssion — more exten- 
sive, indeed, than had ever before been conferred on any other 
Commission ; and the penalties attendant upon refusing to 
comply with the requisition of the Commissioners wore very 
severe ; but no penal consequence of a criminal or civil nature 
would attend the disclosure of the truth ; for. by the 8th sec- 
tion, all parties faithfully disclosing all matters within their 
knowledge on the subjeot of this inquiry, were indemnified from 
all eonsequences whatever, whether civil or criminal, and certi- 
ficates from the Commissioners would protect such parties for 
any act previously done by them in this borough. 

ilr. Bell, the sitting member, was then examined ou tho sub- 
ject of the money advanced for tho purposes of tho election, 
and as to tho circumstances under which he came forward as a 
candidate. The tirst communication ho recolYod upon the sub- 
ject of the election was from Air. Coppock, the parliamentary 
• agent ; who told him there was a vaeancy at St. Albans, and 
that if he became a candidate he was likely to be returned, 
and that the expense of it would be about .£*2500. AVltness 
expressed himself rather surprised at the largeness of the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLANL. 75 

amount, and wanted to know what it was for ; to which Mr. 
Coppock replied that there were various expenses and a t^ood 
deal to pay for aj^ents, and that that would he about the 
amount; and he thoufi:ht he could secure him the election for 
that sum of money. Witness said that he himself, personally, 
would have nothing to do with it, Vjut would refer him to other 
parties. 



Mr. Edwards was then called : being lame, he was seated 
during his examination. He gave his evidence in a frank and 
manly manner ; but when his testimony affected the honor or 
character of others, he was painfully affected. 

Mr. Slade asked, had Mr. Edwards any statement to make ? 

Mr. Edwards said he was not a volunteer. He had been 
summoned, and would answer truly ; but in his position, it 
was preferable that his evidence should be drawn from him. 
In answer to questions, Mr. Edwards then stated that he had 
long resided in St, Albans. He had been manager of the St. 
Albans Bank, and a voter for the borough. He took part in 
the borough elections for twenty-five years. On the 10th of 
November he received a letter from Mr. Coppock, referring to 
Mr. Raphael's death, and summoning him to town. He saw 
Mr. Coppock on the 18th of November, in Parliament street, 
and Coppock asked witness to act with him. Witness con- 
sented. Coppock asked about expenses, and said the Hon. 
Mr. Craven wished to be a candidate. Witness said £"i500 
would be the expense. Coppock said he would communicate 
with Mr. Craven, and would see witness next day. The ex- 
penses were irrespective of a contest ; and witness said that, 
in consequence of a contract with the Conservatives, there 
would l)e no contest. The £2.500 referred to the general ex- 
penses of an election, contingent on circumstances. Witness 
would not, under any circumstances, embark without that 
amount. ..... Mr, Carden was brought 

to the field by a portion of the 'third party,' and was then 
supported by the Conservatives. The third party were 151. 
Bragg's Conservatives were 50 or 60. Mr. Gape and the Earl 
of Verulara were of that party. The 151 were polled to a 
vote at the last election ; there was no third party. Witness 
told Coppock he could poll two to one against Mr. Carden, 
and he had done so. He first heard of Carden in a letter in- 
troducing Mr. Gresham, who said he had ' a candidate ' who 
liad lots of money. The name was meutioned — Sir Fitzroy 



76 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OH, 

Kelly. Gresham said he had come to reside near St. Albans, 
and wanted a 'slice,' as he wasn't going to be *qdet.' Wit- 
ness said, 'What do you want ?' Gresham replied, ' Ten gui- 
neas a day.' Witness offered five. He ultimately decided to 
ask the friend who introduced Gresham. When Bell came 
down, Gresham was one of the first whom witness asked to aid 
his canvass ; but, at a meeting to invite Garden, Gresham 
offered to draw up the requisition inviting Garden. Witness 
was surprised and hurt, and wrote to remonstrate. [Here 
Mr. Gresham interrupted the witness, but was silenced.] Gre- 
sham wrote an answer (now produced), stating that he knew 
nothing of the Garden party. Soon afterwards, Garden ap- 
peared. Witness saw Garden, and told him that he knew no- 
thing of the town, or he would not disturb it, as Mr. Bell's 
return was certain. Mr. Garden bowed, and his friends talked 
'fudge.' Garden came as a Liberal. Witness took all the 
packets to Chequers street. He never saw Bell in Ghequers 
street. There was a sort of understanding — a custom — that 
the Liberals would vote for witness's candidate. Witness held 
out no promises. When there v/as anything to give, he always 
gave it. Head-money was always customary and notorious at 
St. Albans. Gut of 321: Liberals, 250 always looked for 
head-money ; and the opposite party always looked for it. 
They all looked for it. He should consider it strange if any 
one voted for Garden without getting money. At previous 
elections, witness had paid money to fifty of those who voted 
for Garden at the last election. At the last election, £5 was 
the lowest and £8 the highest sum paid to the light v^^cights. 
There were heavy v/eights. The heavy weights got £75. The 
mode of business was this : — The town was canvassed all day. 
In the evening the voters came to him and got their money. 
That had been the custom for twenty years. The voters 
stopped below stairs. Witness's brother-in-law stood at the 
top of the stairs, and introduced the voters one by one. The 
sum to each person varied at different elections. Most of the 
voters were engaged at the elections as messengers, spies, and 
so on, and each one was remunerated as he deserved. Each 
was put on the footing of a servant. Some were actually and 
some only nominally employed. Those who got money under 
the color of work got least. Those who did work got most. 
The voter's visits to Sovereign Alley and the paying com- 
menced on the 30th of November. 

Mr. Slade : Did you keep a list of the persons who came, 
and an account of the money you paid ? 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 77 

Mr. Edwards : Yes. But I liave destroyed the list. I 
don't want to mention names. I will tell everything else. 

Mr. Phinn : But the Act of Parliament renders it neces- 
sary for us to know the names. 

Mr. Edwards: You see how painful is my position. Does 
the Act of Parliament compel me ? 

Mr. Slade : The Act gives us power to compel you. We 
feel for your position, but these names must be given. 

Mr. Edwards : Let me know, in the presence of those 
around me, my townsmen, what will be the consequences if I 
refuse to tell the names. 

Mr. Phinn : You will be imprisoned until you do 

M. Edwards : I have already been in jail eighteen weeks, 
and would go for another eighteen weeks, sooner than tell the 
names. 

Mr. Slade : But you may be imprisoned for life. 

Mr. Edwards : Then I am compelled. I will give the 
names. I will give every one of them. I will take an alpha- 
betical list of the electors, and will tell all I know of each of 
them, I won't select names. I won't make fish of one and 
fowl of another. It shall all come out. 

Mr. Slade : You are traducing nobody here. You are to 
satisfy the supreme power in the state, and simply to tell the 
truth. 

Mr. Edwards : I wish to do so, and I hope it will do good. 

Great excitement prevailed in court during this conversa- 
tion. A scene was about to be enacted such as had never 
before been witnessed. 

Copies of the register were procured. The Commissioners 
took a copy, and began with the first name — Mr. Edwards 
being given to understand, when a name was called, that the 
question was, ' Did that man receive money from you ?' Many 
of the parties referred to were in court at the time, and. the 
answers offered by Mr. Edwards were followed, in each case, 
by murmuring comments from the audience. At four o'clock 
about 200 names had been called ; these being electors resi- 
dent in a single parish. For obvious reasons, we do not give 
the list of those reported by Mr. Edwards to have received 
bribes ; but we may state the results. Two out of three had 
received bribes, and nine out of ten had received the money 
direct from Edwards himself. Some had received the money 
from Mr. Bragg, as the Conservative agent, acting with Ed- 
wards, but not allowing Edwards to interfere with his own 
people ; and others had got their bribes through inferior 



78 THE SLAYEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

agents employed by Edwards. A few had declined taking 
their bribes except through their wives ; and in those cases it 
was found that the parties had voted against Edwards's can- 
didate, or had not voted at all. Nearly all had received their 
money before the day of the election. Those who had re- 
ceived their money afterwards were parties who had forfeited 
their words in previous contests. 'But,' said Mr. Edwards, 
'.there is seldom a forfeit of word in these cases.' The usual 
sum given by Edwards was £5 — '£5 for his vote, by myself,' 
being the most frequent answer as the names were called. 
There were other sums, of £6, £8, and £10, paid; but in 
those cases vote and actual service were paid for together. In 
reference to one name, the witness said, ' That was not for his 
vote. I had taken his room for a committee-room, and there 
w^as a bed-room. The price was high, but not too high for 
election times. Kothing whatever was said about the vote to 
him. That was quite understood. It was a matter of course 
that he would vote for my candidate.' In reference to another 
name, the statement was, ' The £8 was for his work as mes- 
senger; and he worked very hard. It was understood he 
would vote for me. I never even asked that. It was a mat- 
ter of course.' Another statement, respecting another party, 
was, ' He got between £10 and £20, But that was for goods 
supplied. The vote was a matter of course.' Of another the 
witness said, ' He got the £5 to keep the peace. He is a 
prize-fighter. I used to have a band of twenty prize-fighters 
at the elections, but at the last election I only employed one. 
I gave him £5 ; and he would have had that if he hadn't had a 
vote. He used to get it before he got a vote.' 

Fourth Day. Thursday, Oct. 30. — On Thursday morning 
the Commissioners resumed their sittings in the Court House, 
St. Albans. An immense crowd attended, all other business 
in the town being .suspended by these unusual proceedings. 

Mr. Slade said that it had come to the knowledge of the 
Commissioners that threats had been used to one of the offi- 
cers employed under this Commission. He now announced that 
the court was determined to protect, to the utmost of their 
power, not only their own officers, but all witnesses examined 
under the compulsory powers granted to the Commission. And 
if, after this warning, any interruption was ofi'ered to the pro- 
ceedings, the party so interrupting would be dealt with in the 
severest manner allowed by law. 

Mr. Edwards then resumed his seat in the witness' box. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 79 

He begged, before beginning his evidence, to state a circum- 
stance which had occiired last evening. A person whom he 
had employed in 1850 on his farm, as a painter, had that even- 
ing sent into him a bill for £5 Ss, 6d. That person had 
received £5 or upwards at the late election, and on the bill 
now sent in was marked, 'Received £5 8s. on account.' This 
man had never sent in a bill to him before, but doubtless he 
had done work for it ; but the £5 odd given at the election 
was not given towards the settlement of the bill. 

The reading of the registry, and Mr. Edwards's answers 
respecting each man, were then resumed. There was a re- 
reading of St. Albans' parish, the wrong list having been given 
on the previous day, and the corrections were now made. Ed- 
wards's manner was less constrained than on the previous day ; 
he now gave not only the indispensable facts, but with easy 
unreserve he gossipped about his neighbors, and mentioned 
stories in extenuation or censure, which were superfluous. The 
novelty of his extraordinary position seemed to have worn 
away, and his revelations were tendered with a chatty air, 
which indicated rather a pleasant understanding with his ex- 
aminers. At the same time, he affected no candor. He was 
clear, open, and truthful, and made it apparent that compul- 
sion only could induce him to make the disclosures ; and that, 
being compelled, he related all his election anecdotes accu- 
rately. The registry of St. Albans' parish having been gone 
through, the lists of St. Peter's and St. Michael's freemen were 
slowly called out. Edwards's comments seemed to be ready 
marked opposite each name ; he did not hesitate for a moment, 
and it was very seldom that he was not positive in his state- 
ments. On delivering his emphatic '£5 by myself to himself 
for his vote,' no man could doubt that he had told the truth. 

Fifth Day. Tuesday, Nov. 4. — On Tuesday, the Commis- 
sioners, F. W. Slade, W. Forsyth, and J. Phiun, Esqs., at half- 
past ten, A. M., resumed their sittings (adjourned from Thurs- 
day, the 30th ult.) at the Court House, St. Albans. The 
court was densely crowded, as Mr. Coppock was in attend- 
ance. 

Mr. Heywood Edwards (son of the witness Edwards) was 
first called; and, being questioned as to the 'inducement' sug- 
gested by Mr. Coppock to his father, said that his father had 
told him that Mr. Coppock had promised to get a Government 
situation for one of his (the father's) sons. Witness had four 
brothers ; none of them had yet obtained any public situation. 
Mr. Bond Cabbell had got one of the sons into the Bluecoat 
School. Edwards, Sen., had acted as Mr. Cabbell's agent. 



80 Til]'] SLAVEHOLDEIl ABROAD; OK; 

Mr. Edwards, Son., uns now re-oxamined, and deposed that 
none of the ' head-money ' given by hiui at the last eleetioii 
had been returned since. Mr. lleding-, a Dissenting minister, 
Imd been on Mr. IJelTs committee, but was not very active, 
and was not, as witness believes, aware of the election prac- 
tices as conducted by witness, llis (witness') son's statement 
respecting Mr. Coppock's promise of a situation was correct. 
l)Ut witness had not mentioned the word 'Government' to his 
son. All that he said was, a 'situation.' 

ISh. Francis Edwards, another son of the last witness, said 
he also had acted as agent between his father and Mr. Co})- 
pock. lie had carried ])ackets, and had, like his brother, 
acted a,s doorkeeper in Sovereign Alley. 

Mr. James Cop})ock, solicitor and parliamentary agent, 40, 
Parliament street, being called, Mr. Shide asked whether Mr. 
Coppock had a statement to make respecting the part he took 
in the St. Albans' election. 

Mr. Ooppock said he was ready to answer any question the 
Commissioners might put, but that all ho knew respecting the St. 
Alban's election was in his confidential capacity as solicitor to 
JSlr. Bell, lie a})[)lied for Mr. Bell's permission to give evidence, 
as, without Mr. Bell's permission, no power on earth would have 
induced him to utter a single word on the subject. Mr. Bell 
llrst gave a verbal authority ; but witness requested and ob- 
tained a written authority, which he now produces, and Mr. 
Bell requested that Mr. Coppock would withhold no evidence 
that was necessary to carry out the inquiry. 
Witness' professional duties led him very much in connection 
with parliamentary matters, and had done so, for the last fifteen 
or sixteen years — indeed, ever since Sir R. Peel's celebrated ad- 
vice, to 'register, register, register!' In 1835, an association, 
composed of HOO or 800 of the leading members of the Liberal 
party, was established, and shortly after its establishment wit- 
ness was appointed secretary of the association. That asso- 
ciation was called the lleform Association. Its object was to 
attend to the registrations throughout England, and assist in 
the liiberal cause generally. This had placed him in commu- 
nication with almost every borough and county in England. 
From that time to this, he had, without hardly knowing how, 
been in some way or other consulted by the Liberal party 
whenever there was a vacancy anywhere, and he had been con- 
stantly in the habit of watching vacancies, lie thus knew 
something of most places in England ; and if he were to go 
through the list of boroughs and counties, as the Commission- 
ers had done the list of electors in this case, and if he were 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 81 

asked to state liow the members had gained tlieir seats, he 
believed he could make as extraordinary a statement with re- 
spect to those boroughs and counties as Mr. Edwards had 
made with respect to St. Albans [applause from the audience]. 
lie had not made that statement with a view to applause, })ut 
merely to show the extent of the system ; for he knew it well, 
and there was no man in the kingdom who had a j^reater hor- 
ror of it than he had. When Mr. Thorley came, witness asked 
what were his friend's position and circumstances. Was he a 
producil)le man ? Was he an orator ? and many other ques- 
tions, includinp^ what were his politics, as witness acted only 
on one side, flavin;^ been satisfied on these points, he said 
he would consider the matter. In tliree weeks afterwards, Mr. 
Thorley returned, and mentioned Mr. Bell's name, and witness 
requested Mr. ]5ell to call, which he did. Havinf^ inquired 
about his politics, and the expense he would be willin*^ to 
incur, — for it was as necessary on such occasions to know the 
depth of a member's pocket as of his politics, — Mr. Bell 
frankly said that his only object was to get into Parliament to 
promote certain views of his own with regard to the medical 
profession, which he had for years labored to bring forward, 
and which he thought he could better advocate if he were ia 
Parliament. He had no ambitious views. .... 
There was at that time no other candidate in the field. The 
'third party ' were still in negotiation with Sir 11, Garden, and 
were using every effort to get hold of him or some other can- 
didate, without respect to politics, and simply for the sake of 
expenditure. This had always been the practice in St. Albans ; 
and witness read a letter which he had received from Mr. 
Geard, in 183G, showing that it was then the established cus- 
tom of the ' third party ' to make the candidates ' bribe and 
bleed ' as freely as possible. Witness believed that the same 
custom had existed for 100 years. It had always been under- 
stood that the great majority of the electors of St. Albans 
could be bought and sold witliout respect to principle or any- 
thing else. Bell having agreed to the terms proposed, a dilli- 
culty arose as to how the money should go. It was ultimately 
agreed that it was to be sent through witness to Edwards. 
Witness never saw a farthing of the money ; he received it in 
sealed packets. lie knew that the £2500 did go, in some way 
or other, and the result was the return of Mr. Bell by a large 
majority, as Edwards had promised. Edwards kept faith with 
witness on that occasion, as he always did when he got into 

the fight 

P 



82 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

Mr. Forsyth : We wish to know, did you convey, or intend 
to convey, that impression to Mr. Edwards's mind ? 

Mr. Coppock : I intended to convey the impression that, if 
he succeeded in returning Mr. Bell, I should consider myself 
under an obligation to him on behalf of the Liberals, I gave 
Mr. Edwards permission to tell every word of everything I 
promised ; and if I promised him anything, I shall not violate 
or alter the fulfilment now. 

Mr. Forsyth : Have you been the means of recommending 
any persons to Government situations ? 

Mr. Coppock : Certainly. I have exerted myself to serve 
several parties who served me. The witness then stated that 
the Reform Club party owed its origin to the Reform Associa- 
tion, but'^had no connection with it — that association died four 
or five years ago. There was not now any organized system 
of finding candidates for boroughs. He was not aware who 
told him that Sir R, Carden's limit was £1500 ; but he heard 
it through somebody ostensibly acting for that gentleman. The 
process adopted by the ' third party ' was this : they went to 
a dozen places, — to Westminster Hall and elsewhere, — trying 
if they could find any one to become a candidate. They 
asked each person what he would spend. He w^ould say so 
much. They would reply that would not do, and would men- 
tion some higher sum, promising to insure his return if he only 
found the means. Witness heard from some of the persons so 
employed that Sir R. Carden would not go beyond £1500. 

Mr. Forsyth : What would be the legal expense of return- 
ing a member for such a borough as St. Albans, suppose there 
was nothing spent in head-money or bribery ? 

Mr. Coppock said that if he found he had to retain a dozen 
gentlemen of the legal profession, at ten guineas a day, he 
would put down £1200 for that; and here he begged to say 
that he did not see the difference between that and giving a 
poor man 5s. for his vote. 

Mr. Forsyth : There is a touch of satire in that, Mr. Cop- 
pock, and I don't say but it may be a fair one ; but what we 
want to know is, suppose there was not a dozen attorneys at 
ten guineas a day, but merely the ordinary employment of pro- 
fessional men, — clerks, messengers, etc., — and supposing you 
were asked bona fide to enter into a contest in St. Albans 
without any bribery or head-money, what would be the re- 
quired sum ? 

Mr. Coppock said that Sir H. Ward, w^hen he left St. Al- 
bans and went to Sheffield, told him that the St. Albans elec- 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 83 

tion cost him £2400, and the Slieffield election only £160 ; and 
that when he dined with his Sheffield constituents they all 
paid their own bills even. Witness thought that £200 was 
more than any election at St. Albans ought to cost; but he 
added that they never would prevent practices of bribery, or 
undue expenses, until they allowed the ballot. 

Mr. Slade reminded Mr. Coppock that there were differ- 
ences of opinion on that point, and confessed that he (Mr. 
Slade) was one of those who thought that the ballot would 
increase bribery. 

Mr. Edwards was then recalled, and repeated that Mr. Cop- 
pock had distinctly held out to him the inducement of 'a situ- 
ation for one of his sons.' The promise was made quite volun- 
tarily by Mr. Coppock, and, so far as witness remembered, not 
at all in the way stated by Mr. Coppock," — Observer, Nov. 
Zd, 1851. 



Witliont too miicli trying your patience, Major, I can- 
not send you all the proceedings of this Commission in 
one letter. I close this by repeating that I am, 
Very respectfully, 

Y'r ob'nt serv't and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTER IX. 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRIBERY COMMISSION FOR ST. ALBANS 
CONTINUED — CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS IN 1852. 

London, June 20th, 1853. 

Dear Major: — As I feel sure that you will be inte- 
rested with the detail of circumstances connected with 
this bribery commission, and as it serves so well to illus- 
trate what I have said as to the tone of morals in this 
country, I shall proceed to furnish you with a few more 
extracts from the proceedings of these Commissioners : 



84: THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 



"BRIBERY COMMISSION AT ST. ALBANS. 

Niufh Day. Tuesday, Nov. 11th. — The ninth sitting of the 
commission was hekl this day at St. Albans. The qnestions 
were of a rontine cliaracter, and the answers were but little 
varied. Upwards of 100 electors were severally called to the 
"confessional," and acknowledged with the greatest noncha- 
lance, and to the amnsemcnt of a crowded audience, having 
received £5 and £10 for their votes from Edwards, Blagg, 
Yass, and others. Most of them admitted having been bribed 
at previous elections for Wilks, Craven, Raphael, and Kepton ; 
but the majority professed that the money was in payment of 
" services," not " bribes" for votes. One of the early witnesses 
was the house-painter, who had, as Edwards stated, received a 
£5 bribe, but who subsequently furnished his painting bill for 
£5 6s. 8d. due by Edwards, and who persisted in saying that 
the £5 was given not as a bribe, but in payment of the paint- 
ing bill. Another witness was a blind man, with whom the 
commissioner held the following colloquy : 

Did you vote in 181:t ? 

Ans. : I did. 

Commissioner : For whom ? 

Ans. : For some gent as is dead. 

Q.ues. : For Mr. Kaphael ? 

Ans. : I heerd so. Another man received <£5 at the last 
election and £10 in 18-lT. He said both sums were for services. 

Ques. : Why did you receive more in 1847 than at last 
election ? 

Ans. : Oh, I had two votes (as a £10 householder and a 
freeman) in 184:1. 

Ques. : Then the £10 could not have been for services ? 

Ans. : Yes, it was. 

Ques. : Were your services the same in 1847 as at last 
election ? 

Ans. : Yes, quite the same. 

Though pressed to explain the contradiction, the witness 
would not admit that he had been paid for his "vote." On 
concluding his evidence he was asked if he wanted a certificate ; 
he replied that he sliould like one. The Commissioner said : 
But you are in a dilemma. If you did not receive money for 
your vote, you don't want a certificate ; and if you did, you 
have told us a falsehood. The witness then withdrew without 
making any further application. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 85 

Mr. George Scaley Wa^^gett's name was called, " Here," 
shouted a bold voice ; and then, amidst great laughter, the 
long-missing Waggett appeared. He is a small, emaciated, 
ghastly pale man ; an Irishman, with a native accent, but 
slightly deteriorated by his long residence in St. Albans. His 
wife keeps a lodging-house there ; and he, J3irchmore, and 
Skeggs, had levanted to i>oulogne, and a royal proclamation 
offered £200 to recover the wanderers. In reply to questions, 
Waggett frankly answered that he had received £5 at the last 
election, and £5 in 1847, for his vote. 

Commissioner Forsyth : I hope, Mr. Waggett, your health 
is improved by the mild climate of France [laughter] ? 

Mr. Waggett : Thank you, sir, I'm much better [great 
laughter]. 

Mr. Graham here asked : Did you receive more than £5 for 
your vote at the last election ? 

Waggett : No ; no more 

Graiiam : Or since ? 

Tlie Commissioner said that their powers did not extend to 
embrace this question. Mr. Waggett then withdrew, and sat 
near Hayward, one of the companions of his continental trip. 
Hayward has adopted the foreign style of dress, and now wears 
a formidable beard and mustachios. Birchmore, one of the 
" missing witnesses," appeared in the box amidst much merri- 
ment. He was dressed as a farm laborer, and is about 60 years 
old. He admitted that he had been bribed by "Murster Ed- 
wards," and had been lately "abroad." Skeggs, another of 
the " travellers," also about 60, dressed as a laborer, in answer 
to a question which he did not hear, said he was " no schol- 
lard," though he had boasted to his townsmen that he had 
learned "French." Another voter named Smith said he had 
received £67 for the band, and for his " services" to Bell's 
party, but he ultimately voted for Garden, on the purity prin- 
ciple [laughter]. 

Commissioner : Why did you change sides ? 

Ans. : Because it was more to my interest. 

Ques. : Why so ? 

Ans. : All I can say is, that I found it so. 

On further question, the witness admitted that he had re- 
ceived a notice to quit from his landlord's agent, Mr. Law (who 
was also Alderman Garden's agent). He had voted for Gar- 
den, and has not quitted his house, nor is he now likely to quit 
it. But there were no direct threats proved, and the witness 
did his best to serve his landlord and the landlord's agent. 
8 



86 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR. 

Another ^Yit^oss, who had rccciYcd money from Edwards to 
vote for Bell, nevertheless, nltimately voted for Garden on the 
" pnrity principle," because on lookin^j: over his books he found 
that the balance of customers lay in tiie direction of Garden's 
party [laug-hter]. Another voter who, at the last election, 
received £5 for his "services." and whose juvenile appearance 
led the commissioner to question him on the subject, said he 
was not yet 21. He knew that he had no legal right to vote, 
and he knew it when he was voting. 

Mr. Cyraham, the solicitor, here urged to have questions put 
to the witnesses who had absconded, respecting the pecuniary 
supplies for their trip to the Gontinent ; but the commissioner 
decided that they had no power to go into that subject. 

Above 100 persons having been examined, the Court, at half- 
past three o'clock, adjourned to Wednesday. 

'Tcnfh Daij. Wednesday/, j\\n\ 12//?. — On Wednesday the 
Commissioners mot at the usual hour, and ninety more of the 
electors were called, and put upon their defence, to answer or 
to admit the criminatory charges brought against them by 
Messrs. Edwards, Blagg, Yass, Harris, and others. On Tues- 
day about 100 were similarly examined ; and on the preceding 
Friday 60 were heard. The general result, therefore, is, that 
out of the 483 persons who are on the register for the borough 
of St. .\lbans, more than one-half have been arraigned, and that 
ninety-iiine out of a hundred have pleaded guilty to direct, tan- 
gible bribery and corruption. On the first occasion of the 
Commissioners resorting to the nnexpected and most eftective 
expedient of summoning the individual electors, and compelling 
each man to speak, on his oath, for himself, there was very 
considerable difiiculty in getting at the truth. The summons 
came upon the majority like a thunderbolt ; and although there 
were many who, saturated with the St. Albans morale, care- 
lessly regarded their otfence as locally inoffensive, there were 
others, *' intluentials" and tradesmen, who were dismayed at au 
official exposure which risked their social position in the town 
and neighborhood among their own class, and who, not having 
had the repose for philosophical retlection accidentally afforded 
to Mr. Edwards, could uot, all at once, resolve to make a 
" clean breast of it." 

The following are specimens of the cases elicited this day : 
Wm. Thompson voted for Sir R. Garden last election, but 
received no money. In 1847, he received £10 to vote for 
Raphael, but nevertheless he gave his vote for Graven. 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 87 

John Cockin^ton, cordwainer, said ho received £3 from 
Edwards at last election. He voted for fifty years with the 
Liberals, and never voted on the other side except once. He 
would have voted for Bell whether he got money or not. He 
had never received money before. He understood that the £3 
was to drink Mr. Edwards's health. 

The Chief Commissioner : Do you think you can make us 
believe that ? 

Witness: Yes, sir [laughter]. 

Mr. Commissioner Forsyth : Were you to spend the whole 
of the £3 for brandy and water ? 

Witness : I was to spend it as I liked. On my oath I don't 
think the money was for my vote. Never got £3 from Mr. 
Edwards to drink his health at any V)ut election times. 

Mr. Commissioner Forsyth : We give certificates to all those 
who speak truly, and tell us they received money for their 
votes ; Ijut of course as you say you were not paid for your 
vote, you don't want a certificate ? 

Witness : No, sir. 

George Gooch, gunmakcr, said that Edwards left £5 with 
witness' wife last election, but he did not know of it till two 
days afterwards. He wished her to return the money, but she 
would not. She spent it on her children. He voted after all 
for Sir K. Garden. Hid not get any money from Sir K. Car- 
den's party. Got £15 at the 1847 election from Mr. Blagg 
and Mr. Edwards. 

Mr. Commissioner Forsyth : You were paid rather high. 

Witness ; Our trade always is, sir [laughter]. 



Henry Goodman received £1, in 1847, for promising to Mr. 
Wilkes, but he afterwards mistook the name, and voted for 
Repton [a laugh]. 

AV. Drayton said he received £10 from F^epton's party, in 
1847, to abstain from voting. 

Mr. Blagg explained that the race was very close between 
Wilkes and Repton, and the object of Repton's party was to 
send away as many as possible of Wilkes's promisees. 

Mr. Commissioner Forsyth: And is it customary, then, to 
give the voters money to break their promises ? 

Mr. Blagg : Not to break their promises, sir. Yery few of 
the St. Alljans voters ever break their promises ; but it is not 
unusual for a voter to find it convenient to go away on a 
"journey" at election times [a laugh]. I have known cases 



88 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

of voters being sent away in coaches and four, and of coaches 

and four being sent after them to fetch them back again. 

The Court intimated that certificates would not be granted 
to any voters who did not come forward to give their evidence, 
and that such persons would, therefore, be subject to prosecu- 
tions for having received bribes. The proceedings were then 
— four o'clock — adjourned to next day. 

Eleventh Bay. Thursday, Nov. 13fh. — This morning the 
Commissioners again resumed their inquiries, and a few more 
witnesses were examined, each of whom, after his humble con- 
fession, retreated into an obscure corner of the court, waiting 
for his certificate of protection from the Commissioners. 

Mr. Thomas Blanks deposed that he acted as an agent for 
Carden at the election in December last, and voted for him. 
He was not paid for his vote. He did not think he was paid 
for anything. Before the election, Mr. Low, Alderman Car- 
den's agent, authorized him to draw a few pounds to pay flag- 
bearers, bandmen, &c. ; and if he had overdrawn a little, he 
was not aware of it. He paid no head-money at last election. 
He wished he had the power. 

Mr. Phinu : Why do you wish that ? 

Witness : Because we could then have fought on equal 
terms. 

Mr. Phinn : Oh I you objected to the purity principle ? 

Witness : To be sure I did. I never would have agreed to 
vote for Carden, if I thought he was coming forward on the 
purity principle. Because no one can get into any borough 
on the purity principle [laughter]. 

Mr. Phinn : Well, did you go to London hunting for a can- 
didate ? 

Witness : Yes, I went with some others, and saw a good 
many persons ; some we never asked, and others declined to 
stand. 

Mr. Phinn : Did you speak about money to them ? 

Witness : Undoubtedly. 'No one can get into any borough 
without it. We said, "A good sum will be required if there 
is an opposition : but come on the ground and see, and then 
you will not like to leave it, perhaps." We mentioned £1500 
or £2000, according to circumstances. 

Mr. Phinn : You were not particular as to a thousand, I 
suppose ?" 

Witness : Oh, no, sir [laughter]. 

Mr. Forsyth : Were you to have £250 of it ? 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 89 

Witness : No, sir ; that was on another occasion. While 
they were searching for a candidate there was a meeting at my 
house. Like others, I took up the affair as a matter of busi- 
ness, to get what I could out of it. We asked Mr. Norton, of 
Waterloo-place, to stand. We believed he had almost con- 
sented to our conditions. 

Mr. Phinn : What were the conditions ? 

Witness : As I told you just now — £1500 or £2000. At 
the meeting at my house, Simpson, Webster, and three or four 
others were present. Simpson said, "Have you a candidate ?" 
We said, "No; but we expect to get one." He then said, 
'' You had better compromise this affair." We asked in what 
shape ? He said, " Oh, there will be a certain sum to pay to 
Mr. Blagg, Mr. Debenhara, Mr. Edwards, and myself, and 
there will be about £250 left. If you like you may take that, 
and whack it, or share it, between you" [laughter]. Mr, 
Simpson was a sort of middleman between us and the other 
party. We did not accept the proposal, however. We 
thought we could do better if we stuck to our own candidate. 

Mr. Forsyth : Well, did you do better ? 

Witness : No, we ought to have done better than we did. 

Mr. Forsyth : You said that the expenses at St. Albans 
were a mere milk score compared with other boroughs. How 
do you think so ? 

Witness : Well, I consider that in Maiden, in Essex, for in- 
stance, they spend more money than they do here. I never 
received any there, because I was not a voter. I was not in 
St. Albans in 1847. I have been about two years only in the 
borough. I took up the late election, as I have said, as a mat- 
ter of business. There are few people in St. Albans who do 
not move at election times. I joined with the stream. 

Mr. Phinn : But Mr. Edwards was the stream, was he not 
[laughter] ? 

Witness : Yes, but he had the bag, and we wished to have 
one for ourselves. We wanted to fight Edwards on his own 
principles [laughter]. 

Mr. Forsyth : You have certainly made a most candid 
statement, Mr. Blanks. 

Mr. Phinn : Had you any agreement with Mr. Pocock or 
Tucker as to your destined share of the money ? 

Witness : Oh, no. The money was to pass through their 
hands, and of course they would take care of number one 
[laughter]. I heard nothing of purity when Garden was first 
8* 



90 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 

taken up. When Garden came to town, I asked him several 
times whether he intended to win his election or lose it. He 
said he would very much like to win it, if he could. " Then," 
said I, " You must do as others do, and come out with the 
money." I did not mince the matter with him [laughter]. 
He said he could not do that, as he was pledged to the con- 
trary ; but that if he had not been pledged, it would have been 
a different thing. As it was, he would not give a shilling for 
a hundred votes. 

Mr. Phinn : Did he say that if he had not been pledged, it 
would have been a different thing ? 

Witness : I^o, he did not exactly say it, but I inferred from 
what he did say, that the question would have been open if he 
had not been pledged. I suggested to Low that money should 
be spent; but he was so jealous of Garden's reputation, , that 
he would not hear of it. I cannot say who started the 
"purity" principle. It came from some of us "Puritans," as 
we are now called. 

Mr. Phinn : Oh ! do they call you Puritans ? 
Witness : Yes, sir. 

Mr. Porsyth : It must have come upon you rather unex- 
pectedly, Mr. Blanks, and been quite a shock to your feelings. 
Witness : My feelings were rather shocked, I confess, sir. 
I thought it no go [laughter]. I believe Mr. Joseph Bennett 
was the person who first started the purity principle. I voted 
for Alderman Garden, notwithstanding, because I did not like 
to run away from him after helping to bring him forward. I 
think Alderman Garden would have been elected for an ex- 
penditure of less than £4000. I remember attempting to bet 
with Alderman Garden that he would win his election. I 
offered to bet him £1000. 

Mr. Forsyth : And, supposing you had lost, what would you 
have done ? 

Witness : I would not have paid him at all [laughter]. 
Mr. Forsyth : Something has been said as to your having 
settled in St. Albans for the mere purpose of acting at elec- 
tions. Is that true ? 

Mr. Blanks : No, that is not true. I came here to get a 
living. 

There was great laughter in the court throughout this most 
extraordinary series of question and answer. 

Shortly before one o'clock, the examination of all the wit- 
nesses who came forward was concluded, and the Gomrais- 
sioners then announced that they had determined on adjourn- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 91 

ing the further proceedings to the 1st of December, to give 
time for the production of still absent voters, and the exami- 
nation of Messrs. Wilks, Craven, and Repton, the candidates 
at former elections. They had to thank the mayor, and all 
parties concerned, for the great assistance they had given them 
in the course of the inquiry ; and a general feeling of satisfac- 
tion was expressed throughout the court at the urbane and 
considerate manner in which the Commissioners had discharged 
the very stringent duties and powers conferred on them by the 
act of Parliament." — Observer, November I'lth, 1851. 

That Mr. Coppock did no injustice to his countrymen, 
when, in the course of this investigation, he declared, 
that he could make '^as extraordinary a statement," with 
respect " to the boroughs and counties" in '' most places 
in England," if ''he were to go through the list" as "th.Q 
Commissioners had done the list of electors in this case," 
''as Mr. Edwards had made with respect to St. Albans," 
I found subsequently proven, in effect, by numerous pro- 
ceedings in the shape of bribery commissions set in motion 
during the following year. 

In the spring of 1852, the conservatives, under the 
leadership of Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli, came into 
power. A few months thereafter, Parliament was dis- 
solved, and writs for new elections issued. The elections 
took place during the month of July, in that year. Both 
parties charged each other with bribery and corruption 
at these elections ; and following the example which had 
been set in the St. Albans bribery affair of the year be- 
fore, disappointed aspirants, or their friends, flooded the 
House with petitions against the successful candidates, in 
the hope of unseating these, or of exposing the frauds by 
which they were elected. There were no less than 120 
of these petitions. Thus, under the influence of party 
excitement, a mass of startling facts has been given to 
the world, serving to show the fearful extent to which 
corruption, in this direction, has tainted the population 
of Great Britain. 

A number of the members against whom petitions have 
been filed, have been already unseated ; and others are 
still before the Commissioners. I will send you a few 
extracts, showing what has been proven in these cases. 



92 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

But before doing this, I ouglit to tell you of Buck's expe- 
rience at an English election, as he was present on one 
of these occasions, and gives quite a graphic account of 
it. This will have to be done in another letter : so I end 
this, with the assurance that I am, dear sir, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Geo., 

U. S. of America. 



LETTEE X. 

PTJCK ATTENDS THE SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION — HIS REPORT OF 
IT — HIS STORY or HIS GRANDFATHER AND HIS OLD MAS- 
TER — ENDEAVORS TO COMFORT AN EMANCIPATED SLAVE. 

London, June 25th, 1853. 

Deae Majoe: — In the autumn of 1851, Kossuth, the 
great Hungarian patriot, landed at Southampton, in this 
country. Much excitement prevailed among the people 
generally in anticipation of his coming. I partook of the 
interest which was felt, and went down to Southampton 
for the purpose of being present at his reception. I took 
my servant with me, and remained several days. "Whilst 
we were there. Buck became acquainted with a brother 
negro, who was a resident of that town, John Malachi by 
name. By occupation he was a waiter and jobber about 
the place, and had acquired means enough to make him 
an elector of the town of Southampton. He was quite 
polite and hospitable to Buck, and they became great 
friends and cronies. This man happened to meet with 
Buck in the summer of 1852, a short time before the elec- 
tions, and insisted that he should go down and pay him a 
visit. At Buck's urgent solicitation, I permitted him to 
go for a few days ; and thus it was his destiny to be in 
Southampton on the day of the election (July 8th, I think). 
You shall have his account of what transpired. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 93 

''And so you witnessed the election at Soiithampton, I 
suppose/' said I, when he had returned. '' Tell me about 
it." 

^' Marster," said he, " thar was a heap more fuss than 
at our 'lections, an more speechin, an 'bout as much 
drinkin; but I do think though, it was ginerly better 
liker than the knockneed whiskey that some of our 
geriVmen qualifies themselves with at 'lections. First 
come Sir Sandy Coburn (I bleve that was what Jack Ma- 
lachi called him, sir) an Mr. Wilcox an thar friends ; an 
they put up at one place ; an they had fine ribbins of one 
color, an flags of same color, an all sorts smart things 
writ on some on um. Then come tother side, Mr. Van- 
start an somebody else name Bailey or Bailifi", or some 
sich name, an they put up at another place, an they had 
ribbins of another color, an flags too. An sich a beatin 
of drums an blowin of horns, you never heerd the like, an 
sich a callin o' hard names. You'd a thought the people 
would a font every minit, but they didn't ; leastwise, not 
much, though they got into a snarl with tother side heap 
o' times, that would a ended in a gineral sloshin around 
'mong our suvrins. They had a law thar, they told me, 
that nobody should treat at the taverns, but Lord bless 
your soul, Marster ! thar wus plenty on it gwine on 'bout 
in places. Well, in the mornin yearly, says Jack Malachi 
to me, says he, ' Come,' says he, ' an less go over an see 
Mr. Tucker ; I wants to see ef they's a gwine to stick up 
to thar promise to git me a place to sweep the pier-head.' 
'Well,' says I, 'I'm agreeable, Mr. Malachi.' So as we 
went along — 'Look thar, stag,' says he, 'look at them 
stoopid lookin men thar, inside Mr. Whatshisname's fence. 
Them's Wig voters,' says he ; ' them's reglar 'lectors — been 
drinkin all night — an now they's pumpin water on 'um, 
an givin 'um some bitter beer, to git 'um all right for duty 
to day. They's kep 'um locked up,' says he. 'Them's 
Wigs,' says he, a pintin at 'um, an laffin." 
" ' They looks more like pigs,' says I. 
"'Well, any how, them's Wigs,' says he; 'an to my 
notion, all Wigs is mighty nigh pigs,' says he ; ' only don't 
you go an tell 'um I says so, becase I've promised to give 
um one vote, perwiden they sticks up to their word/ says 
he. 



94 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

'' ' Look liere, Mr. MalacH/ says I, ' I don't like wiiat 
you says 'bout Whigs/ says I, ^ becase tbar's Whigs in my- 
country/ says I, ' though they is gittin sort 'o seedy now ; 
an all our good ole revolutioners was Whigs/ says I Jest so ; 
' an I don't like to hear 'urn called by no sich hard names. 
Ole Marster (that's Marster's father as was, when he was 
livin) was a raal Whig/ says I, ' an fit clean through the 
ole Eevolution war/ says I ; (' Marster's got his cocked hat 
yit, up in the garret of his house; leastwise, what the 
moths is left of it/ says I,) ' an I've heern him say a thou- 
sand times, that the Tories was all gran-rascals and trai- 
tors,' says I, jest so. An what's more'n that,' says I, ' I've 
heern my gran-father say same thing, an he allers called 
hisself a Whig,' says I,' ' down to his dying day, as mos all 
them ole revolution niggers did,' says I. 

'^ ^ Was your gran-father in that war, stag ?' says Mr. 
Malachi,' says he — its the man's funny way of callin me, 
sir ; stag, stidy Buck. 

'' ' Well, I reckin he was, horse,' says I. 
'^ 'An he font 'long with your ole Marster ?' says he. 
'' ' Yes sirree — bub ! he done thatj says I. 
'' ' Who did he fight ?' says he. 
'^ ' Them ole British and Injuns,' says I. 
'^ ' Whar did he fight ?' 

'^ ' In Ameriky,' says I, ' onder Qineral Morgan at the 
Cuppens, an at King's Mountain, an the Eutaws,' says I, 
' besides heap o' other places. An I've heern ole Marster 
say he saved his life onct from the Injuns,' says I. 
'^ ' How was that ?' says Mr. Malachi. 
'' ' Well,' says I, ' they was in some sort of a fort up on 
Broad Eiver, I think it was,' says I, ' 'long with Col. Clark, 
an the Injuns 'tacted the fort. They druv 'um off, but 
when ole Marster seed the red-skins runnin, he called out 
to his men to foUer him, he did, an jumped over the 
trenchme/i^^s, an tuk arter um, an first thing he knowed, 
a great many more Injuns ris up from whar they was hid, 
an fired on our men, an killed so many on 'mn,' says I, 
' that ole Marster had to order his people to git back into 
the fort,' says I, ' quick as they could. As they was doin 
so, ole Marster was wounded, an fell down in a open place 
betwixt the woods an the fort,' says I. ' When our 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 95 

people got back into the fort, they give the Injuns dozier, I 
tell you, an kep 'um off. But thar was a mighty grievin 
over ole Marster, for they could see him lyin on the 
ground jest like he was dead. But he wasn't dead though, 
only out of his senses from the hurt an loss o' blood,' says 
I. ^ He had fell down,' says I, 'in a sort of a wet, marshy 
place, an bomby the water cooled him like, an he sorter 
come too,' says I, ' and raised himself on his elbow to try 
and git up. When the Injuns seed that,' says I, ' they sot 
up a mighty yell, an fired away at ole Marster ; an some 
on 'um run to\Yards him to take his har — as grandaddy 
used to say,' says I (Hhat means to sculp him, Mr, Ma- 
lachi,' says I), ' but our people poured sich a hot fire into 
'um,' says I, ' that they gin that up as a bad job, an kep 
in the woods. Ole Marster was so weak, that he had fell 
back, but he tried to git up agin, an the Injuns they fired 
away on him agin, an whenever he moved the least bit in 
the world, rip — rap — rap — rap, fell the bullets all round 
him,' says I. ' When grandaddy saw that, says he, Joe's 
dead, says he, if I kin bar that any longer, says he, an 
with that,' says I, ' he lipped over the trench??ie?i^5, an run 
down the hill, an tuk ole Marster on his back, an toted 
him up into the fort. I heern him say,' says I, ' that the 
bullets fell like hail round him, but nairy one teched him. 
One on 'um knocked ofi" ole Marster 's hat, an made a hole 
through it, you could put your thumb in — its thar to this 
day — an grandaddy, he went back,' says I, ' an picked up 
the hat,' says I, ' an got into the fort, 'thout so much as a 
scratch,' says I. 'An so, arter sich Whig doins as them 
in the fambly,' says I, ' you kin see why I take up for the 
Whigs so boldly, Mr. Malachi,' says I. 

" ' Well, stag,' says he, 'your ole Marster must a been 
a good man, and your grandaddy too,' says he. ' But 
them Wigs in your country is Yankee Wigs, an them 
Tories is Yankee Tories. I spose your Wigs is good an 
spectable, but the Tories is the spectable ones here,' says 
he. ' I allers has voted for the Tories,' says he, ' becase 
they's honest. They don't go for no more liberty than 
they kin possibly help, an they says so,' says he, ' an you 
know whar to find 'um,' says he; 'whul them Wigs is 
allers saft-soapin the people 'bout liberty an reform, an 



96 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

all tliat, an jest takes it out in talkin ; tliey never does 
notliin,' says he ; ' I'm gwiuo to vote tliis time for intrust, 
not for principul/ says he. 'I'll split my vote, one an 
one/ says he. 

" ' "What do you spect 'um to give you ?' says I. 

'' 'They's promised to git me Parkins' place,' says he, 
' to hand ropes an sweep the pier-head,' says he, ' an ef I 
thought they wouldn't be as good as thar word, I'd jest 
see 'um on tother side o' Jordan,' says he, 'fore I'd vote 
for 'um. They's promised more places than they kin fill, 
I know,' says he, ' but I hope they means to do far with 
this one,' says he. 

Presently we seed Mr. Tucker, an Mr. Malachi, he 
says, says he, ' I spose I shall have the place,' says he. 

'Plow do 3"ou mean to vote,' says Mr. Tucker. 

'One an one,' says Mr. Malachi. 

' You must vote, then, for Sir Alexander and Mr. Van- 
start,' says he, an he writ the names down on a card for 
him. 

x^rter a while, the percessions begun to form, an then 
I saw Mr. Andrews, the gcnTman that was Mare, when 
\ve come down to see that Govner Koshoot, the great 
Plongry man. An Mr. Andrews he spoke up powerful 
fine for the Whig cmididates, and called one on 'um ' a 
larned gen'l'man,' an tother one, he said, says he, ' was 
dentified with a great company, whose intrusts was the 
intrusts of the town of Southampton;' an then he said 
somethin 'bout 'Peninsular steamboats,' and somethin 
that sounded like ' go ahead ;' an when somebody put a 
question to him that he did'nt like, he said somethin bout 
'dash his wig! an dash his folly.' Presently, he begun 
agin, an said somethin 'bout the slow rate Lord Darby's 
GoveTmcnt had been travellin at, but ef the Whigs only 
could turn him out, ' they'd put the GoYerment train up 
to faster speed ; then they'd go in a express train with a 
ingin named economy.' Here a ole sailor in the crowd 
sung out, says he, 'Blast your eyes,' says he, 'stick to 
your coaches Mr. Mare, you're too slow to get upon a 
ingin.' This sorter put the Mare out a bit, sir [you 
know he is a coachbuilder, sir] ; but he did mighty well, 
I thought, for a coachmaker, sir. While this was a gwine 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 97 

on, the strikers for the candic^a^es was mighty busy can- 
wassin the voters, as Jack Malachi called it, though I 
did'nt see any canwass myself, sir, cepin on the ships, 
sir. 

''Did you see any money given for votes," Buck?" 
said I. 

'' No, Marster, I did'nt. I heern people on Loth sides 
say thar was sich things gwine on ; but I did'nt see 'um. 
Ef you'd a heerd one side 'buse tother, you'd a made sure 
'twas done. 'You're bought and paid for,' one man 'ud 
say to another. ' You're booked in the Mare's coach, you 
are,' says he. An tother one, he says, ' It's a lie,' says 
he, 'its you that's bought. You're a five punder,' says 
he. An so they went on ; but ef thar was any money 
paid for votes, it was onbeknowns to me. But I heerd 
lots o' promises made by the strikers, of what they'd do 
for the 'lectors, ef they'd vote with 'um. 

Bomby the percessions marched to the polling booth, 
an then sich cheers an yellin, as one side 'ud give for thar 
candic^a^es, an tother 'ud groan at 'um, sir. Then tother 
side 'ud yell, an tother 'ud groan. An they 'ud make all 
sorts o' noises to keep from hearin each other. Nobody 
was perlite, but the csnididates, an they was very much 
so, bowin and smilin at the 'lectors. But the way that 
crowd yelled an shouted, sir, would a beat a camp-meetin, 
holler ! Presently, when the crier got some silence, that 
everlastin Mare [I bleve it was] got up, an perposed our 
csLTididates. I calls 'um our csuiididates, Marster, becase I 
allers could'nt help takin sides, when I seed two roosters 
a fightin, an I spose I would a jined one side any how, in 
my feelins ; but main thing was, thar was Whigs in our 
country, an the Tories was 'spised thar. "Well, whoever 
it was perposed our Ccindidates, he made out that the 
whole world was a lookin on, and would be turned topsa- 
turvy ef they was'nt 'lected. Then our side, we hurra'd 
an shouted mightly, an tother side they groaned and hol- 
lered, tell you'd a thought there was a little yearthquake 
an heap o' big bulls in the crowd. That made our Mare 
mad, sir, sartain, an he turned so red in the face, tell he 
was almost black, an he said, 'dash his wig, ef that was'nt 
too bad.' But the madder he got, the more fuss they 
9 G 



98 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

made, 'tell tliey drownded liis voice, sir, an all lie could 
do was to grin, an make motions an shake his fists at 
'um. Then Somebody perposed the tother candic^a^e^, an 
he made out like all the world and the rest o' mankind 
was a lookin on, an would be turned topsaturvy tother 
way, ef thar men was'nt 'lected. The other side people 
they cheered an yelled, an we hissed, an groaned an 
hooted with all our mights. But I dont think we done 
it as well as tothers did, becase we 'spected to beat the 
race, an we was'nt so spiteful like. Then come the time 
for the csmdidates to make speeches, an the way they was 
sweet on the free an independent 'lectors was the way. 
All on um agreed 'bout that adza,cly, though they 
couldn't set horses together 'bout nothin else, sir, cepin 
that everything good was in thar party, an everything 
bad in tother, an that ef they was not all 'lected the 
country 'ud go to pot. 

" But to my mind, Marster, the best speech was made 
by our Sir Coburn. I can't 'member it adzacly, but I 
know he told um what nice people they was, an how 
honest he was, an allers had been, ef he had been a Tory 
onct (I was sorry to hear that), an how he had quit the 
Tories, becase they was gwine wrong, an how the Whigs 
was right, leastwise the present time Whigs. 'As for 
them first Whigs,' says he, ' them Walpul Whigs,' says 
he, ' they mought a been corrupt,' says he, ' but they was 
the old set,' says he ; ' the present Whigs,' says he, ' is the 
men what has made sweetenins cheap, an 'bolished slavery 
an corn-laws.' Oh, he spoke up powerful fine, I tell you, 
Marster ! I didn't think so much of tother speeches. 
Still, tother ones done mighty well, an ricommended thar 
side powerful strong. Well, sir, then the 'lection come 
on, an our ca,ndic^a^e5 they got in, an then me an Malachi 
went home. 

" When we got to Mr. Malachi's house, we found a ole 
nigger thar, name Johnson, who was waitin to see me, 
onderstandin I was from Ameriky. He lived somewhar 
close by, he said, an had come from North Oarlina. He 
blonged onct, good while ago, he said, to a Scotch gen'l'- 
man, name McDaniel, who was a marchant in North Oar- 
lina, an was tuk with a gallopin kunsumtion, an started 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 99 

to come over to this country to see his kin, an git cured, 
ef he could ; but he died on the passage. The ole man 
said he come long with him as his sarvant, to nurse him; 
which when he died he give him a little property, an sot 
him free. An so he staid in this country; but he wouldn't 
a done so, he said, ef he hadn't a got married mighty 
yearly arter gitten here, an he allers had been powerful 
sorry he stayed ; for he was ' nuff happier as a slave in 
North Carlina,' says he, than he was here. We sot up 
mos all night, talkin ; for I knowed heap o' people that 
come from North Carlina to Georgy, what he knowed, or 
had heerd about ; an 'peared like hit done the man good, 
sir, to talk 'bout ole times in North Carlina. 

'^'Ah, Mr. William Buck,' says he, (he was a mighty 
perlite ole nigger, Marster,) ' ah,' says he, 'ef I could only 
jest see the ole North State onct more, an git some raal 
Macklenburg big hominy, fried with midlin, an hear a 
good corn-song, an go to a camp-meetin, 'pears like I 
could die more happier,' says he. 

" ' Did you have corn-shuckins much in your time,' 
says I. 

'''That we did,' says he; 'an I was much of a man 
round the pile, sir, I tell you ; an bless your heart alive, 
man, it would a done you good to a heern me give out the 
corn songs,' says he; 'speshly Stompin-down-my-Kiley, 
an Miss Aggy-puUed-the-whip-saw-down. Ah me ! All 
that's past,' says he, ' an I never shill hear the like o' 
that agin, I reckin,' says he. 

" ' Would you like to hear a corn-song now, Mr. John- 
son ?' says I. 

" ' Sartain,' says he. 

" So I started right off, Marster, into one on our ole 
shuckin songs." 

"What was it, Buck?" said I, quite interested in his 
story. 

" You've often heerd it, sir — 

' Dis nigger am a mighty man, 

Oh, Bomba-lidg-a-bombala I 
My head is made o' big bombshells, 
Oh, Bomba-lidg-a-bombala I 
My tooths is made o' glass bottels. 
Oh, Bomba-Iidg-a-bombala I' " 



100 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

'' That will do," said I ; '^ I remember it." ' 
" The ole man farly roared out the scorns, Marster, he 
did, tell I should a thought they mought a heerd him out 
to sea. ' Hurra !' says he, when I stopped, ' that's the raal 
grit, Mr. Buck. Grive us another, Mr. Buck,' says he. 
Then I sot off in what Mars. Joe allers called his favenie : 

I went down to SMnbone Alley, 
Long time ago I 

An thar I saw ole Jolinny Gladdin, 
Long time ago !' 



^ Fore I could git any further, Marster, the ole nigger he 
shouted an jumped up, he did, an kotch hold o' my hand, 
an shuk hit, an cried like a child, he did. Jest then 
somebody knocked at the door, an who should hit be but 
one o' the pleece ; an he gin us orders to ^ shot up our 
infarnal noise, an go to bed.' Jest to think of the British 
tory callin sich songs as them a ' infarnal noise,' Marster ! 
Howbeever, we thought it best to mind what he said, an 
so we done it." 

This is all I can afford to give you of Buck's narrative. 
Major. I will add that there was a petition against Sir 
A. Cockburn and Mr. Wilcox, the successful candidates at 
Southampton, and John Malachi (who never got Parkins's 
place, by the by, as he said) and others were witnesses 
before the Commission. But it has come to nothing, I 
believe. We must look elsewhere for strong evidence of that 
bribery and corruption which is so prevalent on such occa- 
sions in this country. I will remark, further, that the ma- 
terial facts stated by Buck as to this election were sustained 
by the evidence before the Commissioners. I attended 
the polling in London, at one place, for a short time ; but, 
owing to the peculiar character of this constituency, the 
proceedings did not present those features which are 
found in the smaller towns and boroughs, and more espe- 
cially characterize elections in this country. In my next 
you shall hear more of these. For the present, you must 
rest satisfied with the assurance that I am, dear Major, 

Y'r ob't serv't and cousin. 

To Maj. Joseph Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Ga., U, S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 101 



LETTEE XI. 

SPECIMENS OF VARIOUS ELECTION BRIBERY COMMISSIONS. 

London, July 1st, 1853. 

Dear Major : — I comply with my promise, and send 
you extracts from the proceedings of various other bribery 
commissions, which were appointed by the House of Com- 
mons, upon petitions growing out of the elections of 1852, 
to which I have referred. 

" KINGSTON-UPON-HULL. 

On Saturday this Committee renewed their inquiry at twelve 
o'clock. The members were the Hon. Mr. Labouchere (chair- 
man), Mr. W. Bagge, Mr. Raikes Currie, Mr. R. Davison, and 
Hon. H. F. Berkeley. 

The examination of John Walker was continued. He 
stated that he had received several sums of money from Wilde, 
for the purpose of the election, and that he paid for refresh- 
ment for several voters, Wilde told him generally there was 
' plenty of tin,' but he did not say where he got it from. 

Cross-examined : Was never called upon by Wilde to ren- 
der any account, but received from Wilde altogether between 
£30 and £40. Witness had received £50 for his evidence 
before the Committee. Did not consider this bribery [laughter]. 
Rollett came to him to get the information he had given in his 
evidence, and they talked together ' about the baseness of the 
electoral system generally,' and this had been a standing 
opinion of witness for many years [laughter]. Prior to the 
passing of the Reform Bill, a freeman always got £2 for a 
split vote, and £4 for a plumper ; but since that system was 
abolished, the new voters were the most difficult to manage. 
They did not know their price. Witness was speaking of the 
£10 householders in the former case. Now the 'market price ' 
had dwindled down to 30s. a head. There was also the cus- 
tom, on both sides, of giving refreshment. It was usual to set 
down a freeman as for six days' pay. Some did not get paid ; 
9* 



102 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

and had it been otherwise, there would not have been the 
bother of this petition [laughter]. Out of between 4000 and 
5000 voters polled at the last election, witness would say that 
1000 were accessible by this means. The practice had existed 
less extensively at this election than at former ones. Yoters 
were ' set down ' as messengers, not for employment, but for 
their votes. There were none of the ' open houses ' of the old 
time, but voters were introduced by a member of the Commit- 
tee to the landlord of a tavern, and they were then allowed to 
order and have what they liked. Witness would say that be- 
tween 400 and 500 voters were ' set down ' in this way at Sa- 
ville street — the term ' setting down,' in Hull, meaning that 
they were to have 30s. each for the colorable employment of 
messenger, but in reality, for giving their votes. The mem- 
bers of the district committees sent voters to Saville street 
with notes for this purpose, addressed 'XYZ,' alias to 
Wilde, who told the bearer it was 'all right;' the voter's 
name was set down, and he knew he would be paid for his 
time. 



Charles Robinson, block-maker and freeman, said, on the 
night before the election, he was walking with other voters, 
and met Walker, who took them to 21 Saville street, and had 
their names 'set down.' They went in singly ; and afterwards 
to the Queen's Arms, where they were treated with drink. 

Walker gave witness the 30s. as they were going to the 
poll ; and the other men subsequently received the 30s 

The Committee here adjourned to Monday. 

HUDDERSFIELD. 

The Committee in this case, which also met for the first 
time on Saturday, were, Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, Mr. Gr. 
Tomline, Mr. James McGregor, Mr. T. A. Mitchell, and Mr. 
F. W. West. 

Mr. Edwin James opened the case for the petitioners, as one 
of bribery and general treating. Mr. Stansfield's Committee 
held its sittings at the George, which was one of the finest 
hotels in the West Riding, and the members of that Commit- 
tee were charged with having taken an active part in the mal- 
practices committed. Mr. Willan came forward in opposition 
to Mr. Stansfield, in consequence of a requisition signed by 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 103 

500 voters, and at three o'clock on the day of the election Mr. 
Willan was actually at the head of the poll by a majority of 
fourteen votes ; but at this critical moment, a volley of intoxi- 
cated voters, who had been bottled up at the George, were 
suddenly uncorkscrewed, rushed to the poll, voted for Stans- 
lield, and gained the election [laughter]. The learned counsel 
continued to state he should show that treating of the most 
barefaced and unblushing description went on at the George, 
and that payment was made to publicans in respect of votes 
given in 1847 and votes at the last election. 

Evidence was then called to show the existence of the Com- 
mittee at the George, of the system of paying publican's bills, 
and that, out of sixty-five publicans on the register, fifty voted 
for Stansfield. 

The Committee adjourned to to-morrow Monday) 



GUILDFORD. 

This Committee, consisting of Lord Seymour (chairman), 
Hon. R. A. Christopher, Mr. R. B. Sheridan, and Hon. W. E. 
Buncombe, assembled at eleven o'clock. 



Mr. Serg. Kinglake opened the case, describing it as one of 
bribery and treating. Mr. Thurlow claimed the seat, on the 
ground that, on a scrutiny, he would be able to prove a ma- 
jority over Mr. Bell. The bribery and treating resolved itself 
into colorable employments, such as flagmen and alleged pro- 
mises of appointments on railways, of one or more influential 
ones of which Mr. Mangles was director. 

Thomas Rivers, a sawyer, of Guildford, deposed that 
White, an active agent of Mr. Bell, promised him and his bro- 
ther to get them places if they would vote for Mr. Bell. 
They were employed as flagmen, and voted for Bell. 

G. Causton deposed to having paid voters employed as flag- 
men, and was particular in paying none who were not voters. 
Paid them 5s. a day, and had abundance of money from 
White, from whom he received, in all, £15. 

Voters Carpenter and Tilbury were examined, but their evi- 
dence contained no point of particular interest, and the Com- 
mittee adjourned till to-morrow. 



104 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



RYE — MR. MACKINNON UNSEATED. 

Mr. Merewether and Mr, Rodwell appeared for the petition- 
ers, and Mr. Edwin James and Mr. Welsby for Mr. Mackin- 
non, the sitting member. 

Prior to the commencement of the proceedings, Major Cur- 
tis, who was standing in the body of the committee-room, ad- 
dressing the chairman, said, 'I hope there will be no compro- 
mise of this. I beh'eve it is going to be attempted. I will be 
no party to it.' 

The Hon. Chairman : We cannot entertain anything of the 
kind. 

Mr. Merewether then opened the case, stating that Major 
Curtis, the old member for Rye, having retired, Mr. Pomfret 
opposed Mr. Mackinnon at the last election, having received a 
requisition from 260 voters, out of the total constituency of 
510. The result of the poll, however, was, for Mackinnon 
240 votes, for Pomfret 208 ; and it would be for the Commit- 
tee to decide how it was that the 260 votes for Mr. Pomfret 
had been reduced to 208. A key, however, to this, would be 
found in the corrupt practices of treating that were carried 
out. Mr. Curtis, having retired, lent his influence and interest, 
and agents, in favor of Mr. Mackinnon, and gave a grand din- 
ner at his place at Peasmarsh, to 300 voters, to celebrate his 
own retirement from the representation, and Mr. Mackinnon's 
appearance in his place. Messrs. Butler and J. Smith, former 
agents of Mr. Curtis, carried on the arrangements of the com- 
mittees on behalf of Mr. Mackinnon, and no fewer than thirty- 
four open houses for drink and dinners were to be noted in 
Rye alone, twenty of the landlords voting for Mackinnon. 

A witness named Parsons was under examination, when, 

Mr. James interposed, and said he was afraid that the din- 
ner that had been given by Mr. Curtis would be found to be 
so mixed up with Mr. Mackinnon's agents, that the Committee 
would hold it to have been treating under the Act, and that 
Mr. Mackinnon must submit to a resolution declaring that 
bribery by treating, and through his agents, had taken place, 
but without his personal knowledge, or any imputation on his 
character. 

The room was then cleared, and, on the re-admission of the 
public, the chairman said he wished to know what course the 
counsel for the petitioners intended to take, consequent on the 
announcement from the representatives of the sitting members. 

Mr. Merewether said he proposed, on behalf of his clients, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 105 

to adduce sufficient evidence before the Committee to prove 
the case of the dinner at Peasmarsh. 

The Hon. chairman said that the Committee had anticipated 
that would be so ; but it was their opinion, under the circum- 
stances, that it was desirable they should take further time to 
consider the course the Committee ought to pursue, and they 
would therefore adjourn until Monday. 

Evidence was then adduced with reference to the dinner at 
Peasmarsh. liichard Lankester and J. E. Davey, voters for 
Mackinnon, deposed to having^ been there, and that they were 
regaled with meats and drinks, and the 'port of Rye,' for 
which they did not pay. Jeremiah Smith, land agent for Mr. 
Curtis, and election agent for Mr. Mackinnon, spoke to having 
ordered the dinner, which cost £220, but which Mr. Curtis had 
not yet paid him, though he kept an open account with Mr. 
Curtis. 

The room was then cleared, the Committee deliberated, and 
declared 

' That W. A. Mackinnon was not duly elected to serve in the 
present Parliament for the borough of Rye — that it was a 
void election, and that he was, by his agents, guilty of 
treating. 

The chairman added, 'This resolution is founded upon a 
point that arose in an earlier part of our proceedings, and I 
therefore have to intimate that the Committee entertain doubts 
whether they shall not think it their duty to take further pro- 
ceedings under the circumstances of this case ; and therefore 
adjourn until Monday, at twelve o'clock, when we shall expect 
to see the parties here ; but on that day we shall not expect 
you to be prepared with any witnesses.' 

The Committee then rose. 



CAMBRIDGE — MESSRS. MACAULAY AND ASTELL UNSEATED. 

On Tuesday the Cambridge Election Committee re-assem- 
bled, and Mr. Sergeant Wrangham announced that, as bribery 
by the agents of the sitting members had been proved, he 
could not successfully contest the charges made in the peti- 
tion. But the sitting members were anxious to state to the 
Committee that they were utterly unconnected with the acts 
of corruption, and had done their utmost to prevent them. 
The Committee then decided to hear the sitting members be- 
fore the close of the case ; and as Mr. James, counsel for the 
petitioners, stated he had a list of 100 persons, bribed with 



106 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

£10 eacli, it was agreed that he should confine himself to some 
of the prominent cases. 

Some witnesses were then examined, and several cases of 
bribery were proved. 

Mr. Macaulay then stated that Messrs. Balls and Fawcett, 
of Cambridge, had told him that Mr. Astell had agreed to 
stand for the borough, and that £1200 would be the expense. 
Messrs. Macaulay and Astell advanced that sum, and also a 
further sum of £200 ; but they specially insisted that no part 
of the money should be expended in an illegal way. They 
had never since demanded or received any account of how it 
was expended, but they were both quite unconnected with, and 
ignorant of, any acts of bribery or corruption. 

Mr. James, in remarking on the acts of bribery, said it 
could hardly be denied that the Carlton Club had supplied ' 
money for the purpose ; but the Reform Club, and the Carlton 
Club, and the members of the House of Commons would be 
doing themselves a great injustice if they wished to screen 
such doings. It was all very well to say that the accounts of 
the Carlton Club were audited and published. He (Mr. 
James) did not mean to say that money for electioneering pur- 
poses was supplied from the eight or ten guineas a year sub- 
scription paid to the club, but from the private resources of the 
members. 

Mr. Hildyard : Mr. James, you must confine yourself to a 
statement of the facts. I cannot sit here and permit myself 
to be addressed in this manner, as I know the accounts of the 
Carlton are regularly audited. I also state that no sum is 
subscribed by that club in any way for the purposes of elec- 
tions, and I believe you are making a false statement when you 
state that. 

Mr. James said that, with reference to the courteous manner 
in which Mr. Hildyard had told him he was making a false 
statement, he of course received it as a counsel discharging 
his duty. 

Mr. Hildyard explained that he meant nothing personally 
offensive. 

After some discussion, the Committee consulted together on 
the evidence ; after which, the chairman read the following 
resolutions of the Committee : 

'That Kenneth Macaulay, Esq., and John Harvey Astell, 
Esq., were not duly elected as burgesses to serve in the pre- 
sent Parliament for the borough of Cambridge. That the last 
election for the said borough of Cambridge was a void elec- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 107 

tioD. That Kenneth Macaulay and John Harvey Astel], Esqs., 
were, by their agents, guilty of bribery at the said election. 
That it was proved that Charles Nurrish was bribed by the 
payment of £10 ; Joseph Dealtry, by the payment £6 10s. ; 
Henry Mansfield, by the payment of £10 ; George Richard- 
son, by the payment of £10 ; John Sharman, by the payment 
of £10 ; Thomas Butcher, by the payment of £5 ; W. Baker, 
by the payment of £4; John Hawkes, by the payment of 
£19 ; Thomas Lee, by the payment of £7, and £1 in furni- 
ture. That Samuel Long, Joseph Sterne, William Taylor, 
William Peake, and William Gilbert, were guilty of bribery 
at the last election for the said borough of Caml)ridge ; but it 
is not proved that such bribery was committed with tlie know- 
ledge or consent of the sitting members. That there is reason 
to believe that corrupt practices have extensively prevailed at 
the last election for the said borough of Cambridge. 

" DERBY. 

On Saturday, the select Committee appointed to try the 
merits of this petition met in committee-room No. 2. Sir John 
Pakington, chairman ; Col. Knox, Mr. Moncrieff, Mr. Tudway, 
and Mr. Corbally. 

This Committee re-asserabled yesterday, Mr. Robert Ingham 
in the chair. The other members of the Committee were Mr. 
W. Stirling, Mr. W. M. Milner, Mr. J. B. Stanhope, and Hon. 
A. Kinnaird. The committee-room was much crowded 

Sergeant Fern, of the Derby police, deposed to having, on 
the morning of the election, gone to the County Tavern, in con- 
sequence of instructions from the last witness. Certain signals 
were communicated to him. He went up stairs, and at the top 
met Kallow, who attempted to stop him, but witness put his 
finger to the side of his nose [laughter], upon which Kallow 
said, "That's all right." Witness also said, " ICs d\ right; 
Radford sent me." Kallow allowed witness to go into the 
room, where he found Morgan before a table with a small book 
and two or three pieces of paper. He took Morgan into cus- 
tody and searched him. In Morgan's pocket he found one 
£10, and six £5 notes of the Bank of England, and in his 
trousers' pockets a bag containing £134 in sovereigns and half 
sovereigns, and the celebrated " W. B." letter. He also found 
four cards on Morgan ; two of these cards had on them, ''Mr 
T. Morgan," and the other two, "Mr. T. Morgan, Chester." 



108 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD; OE, 

The pieces of paper lie found on the table turned out to be 
bank notes [laughter]. Witness lodged Morgan in. the lock- 
up. Asked him his name, and where he came from, and he 
replied it was on his card. Next day Morgan told witness he 
came from Shrewsbury, and not from Chester. Witness asked 
him why he put Chester on his card, and Morgan replied, be- 
cause Frail had expressed a wish to him that he should do so. 
Morgan also stated to witness that the night before the elec- 
tion a man had brought him a bag of gold, and in the morning 
another and some notes. The man who brought the money 
was a tallish thin man, dressed in drab clothes. It was nearly 
dark when he brought him the first money, and he therefore 
thought he should not know him again, unless he had some 
conversation with him. Witness knew Thomas Lund, who an- 
swered this description. Morgan told witness he paid the 
money away to persons who brought checks. He entered the 
numbers of the checks in his book, and the sums he paid for 
each, adding that "if they had not found his book they would 
have been bothered." Morgan said he did not know that the 
persons he gave the money to were voters, and that when he 
was coming from Shrewsbury he thought it was to act as a 
poll-clerk, and that if he had really known what they wanted 
him for he would have seen them hanged first [laughter], 
Morgan also told witness that if he had been in the room two 
minutes earlier, he would have seen a man in a brown coat, who 
had paid away twice as much money as Morgan. Morgan also 
said Derby was a poor place ; that they gave as much money 
for one vote at Shrewsbury as they gave at Derby for twenty 
[laughter]. The money the Derbyites had given him would 
not have lasted him two hours at Shrewsbury. 

Cross-examined : Did not pump Morgan ; Morgan indeed 
did not require pumping [laughter], for he had been imbibing 
that which was calculated to make him loquacious, i. e., brandy 
and water [laughter]. On their way to the lock-up they had 
two quarts of ale. The magistrates who took Morgan's state- 
ment were of both political parties ; Morgan was confused and 
excited, and on hearing the noise outside the court said, " tell 
'em if I get free I'll give them a few barrels of ale." When 
witness arrested Morgan he fell apparently stupefied over the 
fire-place, and exclaimed " Lord deliver us" [laughter] ! 

J. W. Mellor and G. Hervey, constables of the Derby police, 
corroborated the previous evidence, and produced the book 
spoken of by Fern as being before Morgan on the table. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 109 

Charles Bird, messenger to Mr. HorsfalPs committee, was 
engaged by Mr. Simpson at the last election, at 4s. a day. 
Mr. Webster was there frequently, on the occasion of canvass- 
ing for Mr. Horsfall. Mr. Webster directed letters in the 
committee-room, and Mr. Gillam assisted him. Saw the Coxes 
there. Saw Mr. Walker, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. 
Mosel}'', and witness voted for Horsfall. 

On cross-examination witness said he was not kicked down 
stairs by Mr. Horsfall for being drunk, but he was shoved 
down [laughter]. Was not drunk, neither was he sober, but 
a little amidships [laughter]. 

The Committee then at four o'clock adjourned to twelve to- 
morrow (Monday). 

During the proceedings a list of from 120 to 130 voters,, 
stated to have been bribed, and upwards of 100 persons who 
were stated to have bribed them, was handed in to the Com- 
mittee." — Observer, MarcJi Ith, 1853. 

Here is what the editor of the Observer stiys of these 
proceedings and others like to them : 

"the election committees. 

The cause of the Ballot comes on apace. Bribery seems to 
be more rampant ; at all events, it is more bold than ever. 
Fourteen election petitions, terminating in unseating the mem- 
bers on the grounds of bribery and treating, and that, too, when 
fifty others yet remain to be disposed of, are strong evidences 
that the present system, with all its guards and contrivances 
against the offence, is very little better than a mere sham. The 
detection of the offence has been much facilitated of late ; but 
detection is not enough ; it is prevention which is required. 
Now, as long as men hope that bribery will not be discovered 
by an opponent, or will not be betrayed by a supporter, they 
will practice it. Nothing but the assurance that though they 
may practice it, they will practice it in vain, will ever restrain 
them. An effective ballot would produce this result, and is 
the only thing that will produce it. While you know that if 
Hodge takes your money, he will in 999 cases out of 1000 give 
you his vote, you will (or at least your agents will, for now no 
candidate ever perpetrates bribery I) offer him money for his 
vote. But if it was once thoroughly understood, that though 
Hodge might take the money, he might not give the vote, and 
that there were no means of knowing whether he did give it or 
10 



110 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

not, the money would not be offered. Who is there that ever 
thinks of giving payment to a stranger to go and deliver a 
message a mile off, when he is well aware that, though he may 
afterwards find the message has not been delivered, he can 
never hope to discover the rogue who took his money but did 
not perform the service for it ? And the case is still stronger 
as to the giving of the vote than as to the delivery of the mes- 
sage ; for while the latter is a lawful, the former is an unlawful 
thing, and therefore the promise to perform it is a promise not 
only not binding in morals or in law, but is one of which morals 
permit and law commands the disregard," — Observer, March 
1th, 1853. 

Allow me to present you with a few more ricli speci- 
mens, in tlie following : — 

" COCKERMOUTH. 

The proceedings in this Committee directed against General 
Wyndham, the other member, possessed no features of parti- 
cular interest. The general tenor of it was, that a number of 
flag bearers, employed by the " yellow party" were paid after 
the election by Ratley, and were billetted in bodies of 12 to 
20 at different public houses, the landlords being voters. 

Evid'r'iice was also called to prove agency, and one witness 
deposed that his employment was to 'take off his hat and 
shout' for Wyndham, for which he was paid." — Daily News, 
18th, 1853. 

'' THE CANTERBURY BRIBERY COMMISSION. 

The Commissioners, Messrs. Slade, Chisholm Anstey, and 
Bircham, reassembled on Monday, and Mr. Alderman Brent, 
on being called, said he could produce no colored tickets for 
any elections, except for the year 1847, transcribed in Mr. 
Butter's book. Witness had always been a liberal at the elec- 
tions. A place was given to one of his sons 17 years ago, and 
to a second son 14 years ago ; to the third son three years, 
and to his fourth son just as the Whigs were going out, before 
the Derby Government came in. He believed he never gave 
Thomas Adams money. One of his sons is in Somerset House, 
with a salary of £150 a-year, to be further advanced, and his 
two other sons have £90 to £100 a-year, also advancing. 
Witness sometimes used his influence successfully in obtaining 
appointments for supporters of the Liberal members. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. Ill 

Mr. Jonatlian Rutter said : He is a Liberal. He kept the 
accounts of the Liberals in 1847, and he voted then for Co- 
nyngham and Smythe. He, on that occasion, received £900 
from each of the two candidates, and spent it all in the elec- 
tion, except £14 8s. lOd. Part of the money supplied by the 
Liberals was given to one Goodwin, who distributed it amongst 
about 30 voters. Goodwin distributed the money, partly in 
bribery and partly in treating. Jacobs, a broker, and Cobb, 
were similarly employed. Witness never bribed a voter him- 
self. But he gave other men money, knowing that it was to 
be used in bribery [sensation]. £1600 was spent at the elec- 
tion for Conyngham and Smythe, £100 of which was spent at 
the Fountain in good things [a laugh]. I (said the witness) 
paid the money for the color tickets on the occasion, and a 
very tedious job I had of it [a laugh]. The same system of 
color tickets was adopted at the election previous to 1847. 

Mr. Bircham : I am a member of the Reform Club, and my 
experience. Colonel Romilly, is the same as yours. I know 
of the existence of a private fand from general rumor, but who 
are the parties into whose hands the money is paid, or through 
whose hands it passes, I know nothing [applause]. 

Colonel Romilly here said he had to contradict an imputa- 
tion that the object in not resorting to corrupt practices on his 
side was because it was contemplated to unseat the opposite 
party on petition. No such idea was entertained. They 
thought they had good prospects of success. 

Mr. Alderman Brent was here recalled, and said that £450 
was paid to his account, and which appeared in his banker's 
book. He paid £200, the balance of it remaining, to Mr. Cop- 
pock, and nothing passed between them on the subject beyond 
a joke by Coppock, to the effect that ''the smallest donations 
were thankfully received" [laughter]. 

Mr. Alderman Plummer, deputy chairman of the elections' 
committee, deposed that he had known of the existence of the 
color system at Canterbury since 1845, and he had always 
opposed it. He was the only person that did so. 

George Goodwin, brewer, said he took an active part for 
Conyngham and Smythe in 1847. He got a list of 30 voters 
from Rutter, with instructions to give them £5 a-piece for their 
votes after they had polled for Conyngham and Smythe. The 
rumor that he had put any of the money in his pocket was 
false. He gave the names of three or four of the thirty per- 
sons, but "if it were to save his life," he could not give the 



112 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

remainder. (The chairman admonished him tliat he must give 
them at a future period). He had no account of the way in 
which the money was distributed. 

Edward Southey deposed that he assisted Goodwin, but had 
none of the money. The witness gave a droll account of his 
having occasionally shifted from the " Blues" to the " Reds," 
and he repeated, amidst the derision of the audience, that he 
had none of the money, but that the contract having been 
made with the voters, he took them to the poll. 

The Hon. Mr. Smythe deposed that he was successful in 
1841 at a single election in Canterbury. He can't admit that 
he came forward as a Conservative, or as a " Pink," or a 
" Red ;" nor can he admit that when he stood in ISit, it was 
a ''Blue" [laugliter]. His election in 1841 cost him £6000 or 
£7000. He had no agent. He cannot tell who had the dis- 
tribution of the money, but he knows that the money went out 
of his pocket. His election in 1847 cost £1000. It was on a 
less liberal scale than in 1841. The witness, before answering 
further questions, wished to ask was he to be exempted from 
criminating himself? The Chief Commissioner said that who- 
ever gave his evidence there satisfactorily, would be entirely 
exempted from penal consequences. Mr. Smj^the then pro- 
ceeded to state that in 1841, a very large issue of color tickets 
occurred, viz., to the value of £2000. He has no documents 
of them, as they were burnt by the advice of Mr. Lushington, 
formerly governor of Madras. Witness' opponent was Mr, 
H. Wilson, on whose side color tickets were also issued, the 
two together being £4000. At the election for 1847 he handed 
over £900 without reference to whether it was for legal 
expenses, and knowing the character of the borough, he asked 
no questions ; at any rate it was comparatively cheap [laugh- 
ter]. The number of the names in the accounts connected with 
bribery was 60. In 1841 the expenditure was larger on the 
" Red" than on the "Blue" side. The money on the Blue side 
is more dexterously managed and goes further [laughter]. The 
Canterbury people, like the people in other boroughs, are very 
backward in promising. Witness opposed bribery, but is 
not prepared to say what he should have done in reference to 
color tickets. He thinks that Mr. Gurney Crowdell, the chair- 
man of what is called the Conservative Club, received some of 
the £6000 or £7000, of which £2000 was paid before the elec- 
tion, and the remainder afterwards. Of the £7000, £400 was 
paid in respect of a petition. The Canterbury petition was 
paid off against the St. Albans [laughter]. I don't think 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 113 

(said Mr. Smythe) it was done by Brown or Coppock, but by 
the " whip" of the party. I was very much astouished and 
gratified at it. 

The Hon. Butler Johnstone deposed that he and Mr. Gipps 
were successful candidates at the late election, but were after- 
wards unseated. He and Mr. Gipps had coalesced, and each 
paid £300 into Mr. Kingford's bank. During his canvass the 
freemen used to come up to him and ask him favors, and he 
said to them, ** Do you know who you are talking to — do you 
want to ruin me ?" He had heard that the "Blue" party were 
trying to lay a trap for him to bring about a petition, and he 
suspected it. Had paid £1300 in all as the expense of his 
election. Wished it included in the expense of the petition. 
He understood that there were a great many color tickets du- 
ring the election. He was told that the freemen of Canterbury 
were legitimately entitled to it. He understood that both 
sides always had colored tickets, and in his unsophisticated inno- 
cence he thought they had [laughter]. After he had paid the 
last £300, Dr. Lochee said something about a further sum 
being required, and he was fully prepared to advance it ; but 
Dr. Lochee said, " You have paid £1000, and I do not think 
you ought to be called upon to pay any more ;" but he was 
afraid of Alderman Brent, and what in Canterbury was called 
'' the Bifron's purse," that was the purse of the Marchioness 
Conyngham [laughter]. The marchioness had a very large 
income, and it was rumored that when she saw the election going 
against her son, Sir William Somerville, she would come down 
handsomely with her thousands, as she was understood to have 
done [loud laughter]. When he heard this, and that the mar- 
chioness' purse was to be opened against him, he felt fairly in 
the fight, and that he would not be beaten even by her [laugh- 
ter]. He understood also that the other side were prepared 
to have recourse to bribery, but he was anxious there should 
be no act of bribery committed by either him or his friends. 
Heard of the vacancy at Canterbury, through Brown, the par- 
liamentary agent, and became a candidate from wishing to 
serve Lord Derby's Government. Understood that the color 
ticket system had been in existence half a century in Canter- 
bury on both sides. 

The Committee then adjourned to next day. 

The Commissioners sat again on Thursday, and a witness 
named George Davey deposed that he paid three voters named 
White £6 each for their votes, and to prevent them from voting 
forthe "Keds." 

10* H 



114: THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

James Grodwin named eleven other voters whom he had 
bribed in 184t. Witness was excheqaered that year for £1900, 
and Government had called on him to pay £100. Lord A. 
Conyngham agreed to use his influence with the Excise for 
witness, if witness supported him at the election, and they both 
performed their promises. 

Mr. Kelson, builder and surveyor, deposed to having dis- 
pensed bribes in 184t, by order of Bennett, when the election 
was '^ getting desperate." In 1852, Mr. Pont gave him £160, 
with which witness bribed forty voters. There was a body of 
electors in Canterbury, called the "Butter Market Troop," led 
by Mr. Mathews, a magistrate. Pont gave witness £10 to go 
away to the Isle of Man, when the Committee sat on the Can- 
terbury election, and sent another £10 after him. 

P. Cobb deposed that he got £35 from Rutter, and he gave 
Beale £5 for a pair of " straps" [laughter], as a blind for his 
vote. 

Southey was re-called, and denied having received any money, 
but said that he paid £50 of his own for treating, in 1841. He 
had always been foolish with his money at elections, but never 
had received any recompense. 

J. Yincent, of the Builders' Arms, got £60 from Pont at 
tbe last election. He kept £15 for himself, and bribed voters 
with the remainder. 

G. P. Smith, manager of the color ticket department, said 
nearly £1600 was spent in tickets in 1841, and £365 in 1852. 
There were color tickets at Sir B. Brydge's election, and at 
the county election. The last election for Canterbury was the 
poorest he had ever known ; he had spent thousands before, 
and only hundreds then. 

Samuel Blint was employed to ascertain the price of the 
voters, and found that they ranged from £5 to £10 each. 

The Commissioners then adjourned to next day." — Obs^rj 
May 23d, 1853. 

Here follows some specimens of tlie manner in wliicli 
these elections are managed in tlie land of the shUlalah : 

" CLITHEROE. 

The Committee on Monday came to the following resolution, 
by which Mr. M. Wilson is unseated : 

That the Committee had unanimously determined that Mat- 
thew Wilson, Esq., was not duly elected as a burgess to serve 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAKr. 115 

in the present parliament for the borough of Clitheroe. That 
the said election for the borough of Clitheroe was a void elec- 
tion. That Matthew Wilson, Esq., was, by his agents, guilty 
of bribery or treating at the last election for the said borough ; 
but that no act of bribery or treating was proved to have been 
committed with the consent or knowledge of the said Matthew 
Wilson, Esq. That it v/as proved that Henry Taylor was 
bribed with the payment of £30. That extensive and syste- 
matic treating, together with other corrupt and illegal prac- 
tices, prevailed at the last election for the said borough. That 
violent and tumultuous proceedings appear to have taken place 
at the said election ; and that hired bands of men, armed with 
sticks and bludgeons, were introduced into the said town for 
purposes of undue influence and intimidation. Mr. Sergeant 
Wrangham applied to have the opposition to the petition de- 
clared frivolous and vexatious ; but the Chairman stopped 
him, and said there was no chance of the Committee acceding. 
The learned counsel then withdrew the application, and the 
proceedings terminated." — Observer, 3Iarch 1th, 1853. 



" MAYO. 

The inquiry before this Committee proceeds on the petition 
of Sir Robert Lynch Blosse, of Alhavallee, Mayo, and of W. 
Kearney, of Bullenville, and other electors, alleging that the 
return of Mr. Ouseley Higgins and of Mr. Moore, the sitting 
members, was obtained by intimidation, violence, and outrao-e, 
exercised towards electors in the interest of Colonel M'Alpine, 
the unsuccessful candidate, who, with his agents and friends, 
was by large bodies of persons, riotously assembled, and incited 
by Messrs. Higgins and Moore, forcibly detained in their hotel 
at Castlebar on the nomination day, and prevented from attend- 
ing the nomination until the arrival there of a troop of cavalry 
and the police, under whose escort they had to be conducted to 
the Court-house. It is also charged that for several days 
before the election, riotous and tumultuous assemblages took 
place, and that the supporters of Colonel M'Alpine were 
assailed, beaten, and injured. 

The petitioners were represented by Mr. O'Malley, Q. C, 
and Mr. Bovill. Counsel for Mr. Higgins were Mr. Edwin 
James, Q. C, Mr. Meagher, Mr. W. P. Hale, and Mr. James 
C. 0. Dowd. Mr. Moore had retained on his behalf Mr. Ser- 
geant Kinglake, Q. C, and Mr. Wells. 



116 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

The committee-room was crowded during the day, and 
amongst those present was a sprinkling of Roman Catholic 
priests, who are alleged to have taken a conspicuous part in 
promoting the return of the sitting members. 

The allegation of want of suf&cient qualification against Mr. 
Moore is abandoned. 

Mr. O'Malley opened the case for the petitioners at consi- 
derable length. 

After a discussion as to the admissibility of the poll-books, 
on the ground of their not having been tendered for seal and 
signature to Mr. Higgins, which the Committee overruled. 

Captain Archdall was sworn and examined. — He deposed 
that he was a captain in the 52d regiment at Swinford, one of 
the polling places, during the interval from the 19th to 28th 
July. On the 23d, there was a great mob and disturbance, 
and the violence of the mob was so directed against the voters 
of Col. M'Alpine, that he had to escort them from a house 
where they were shut up. Was of opinion that it was not safe 
for these voters to go to the place of polling without a mili- 
tary escort. The mob disregarded the bayonets, which knocked 
off their hats and passed across their faces before they made 
way through the mass. Was engaged in escorting the voters 
the whole of the first day. The voters were threatened with 
sticks and stones. Witness ordered his men to load, and the 
Riot Act was read three times. The house in question was 
shut up, with police inside and out, and the windows were shut 
up. In the night witness was awoke by a noise, and saw a 
man from the window with a gun, and the mob attacking him. 
Several young poplars were cut down and thrown up into bar- 
ricades with stones on the Castlebar road. The military cleared 
these barricades. 

Cross-examined by Mr. James. — Was an Irishman of the 
county of Mallow. [Laughter.] Had not been at many elec- 
tions. The proceedings of elections at Mayo were generally 
rather lively. The escort he took on the 23d consisted of thirty 
soldiers and three voters. [Laughter.] Did not know that 
when he took them to the poll nearly the whole of the con- 
stituency had been polled out ; but he believed it was so. 
Witness was not frightened. [Laughter.] Was not aware 
that there was a little pelting on both sides. Witness remained 
in the neighborhood of the court-house, and remained there to 
escort voters. Did not know that the voters were Roman 
Catholic voters retained by Mr. Jackson, who was a Protes- 
tant, in his house, thereby raising o, furore. Was not sufi&- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 117 

ciently versed in election tactics to know what the " cooping" 
of voters meant. Witness escorted on the 24th about fourteen 
or fifteen voters altogether. Understood that many of these 
had been up on the 23d, so that they might probably have 
polled twice. They could not have been much frightened on 
the 23d, if they went again on the 24th. The barricades were 
about the height of the committee-table — [laughter] — and his 
men cleared them away in about ten minutes. There were 
a few boys and women behind them, as at Paris. [Laughter.] 
There were no omnibuses to form the barricades, but they were 
chiefly young poplars and stones. The poplars were eight or 
eleven inches in diameter. The keepers of the barricades did 
not resist the " charge." Bivouacked with his men in an empty 
house. Did not in the process of escorting the voters see one 
that w^as hurt. 

By the Committee. — Some of the voters I escorted were 
struck, but not injured. On the second day there was compa- 
rative tranquillity. 

Mr. E. Day, a private gentleman in the neighborhood of 
Swinford, was next examined. He deposed to having taken 
four voters in the interest of Colonel M'Alpine to Swinford at 
the last election, where he arrived at about three o'clock in the 
morning. Thought it better to travel all night so as not to 
encounter the mob. When they arrived at Swinford, the mob 
collected about the cars, and carried away three of the voters. 
Witness jumped down from the car to recognize the assailants 
and rescue the voters, and the mob took the gun he carried 
from him. There was a good deal of violence and disturbance. 
One of the voters returned the next morning, but the third dis- 
appeared altogether, and did not vote. There were stones 
thrown, and threats held out against the voters. All the county 
tenants who came to support M'Alpine took refuge in his 
house. It was a difficult matter to get any voters up ; they 
were so much alarmed. The Roman Catliolic priests were 
very active on the occasion ; and when M 'Alpine's voters came 
up, they interfered with them, and urged them to vote for those 
they called ''the two most popular candidates." 

Cross-examined. — Was not aware that there was any system 
among Roman Catholic landlords to compel tenants to give 
their votes. Three of these voters were tenants of properties 
of which witness was the agent, and in his absence, when away 
from one of the four voters he took, he voted for Moore and 
Higgins. The voters had as much as they liked to eat, but he 
did not know about drink at Swinford. Stones were thrown 



118 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

by the mob at the voters. Did not know that they were as 
large as the tumbler on the table before counsel, but stones in 
Ireland grew larger than that. [Laughter.] 

Sir Robert Arbuthnot was under examination with reference 
to intimidation at Ballinrobe, when the Committee adjourned 
to this day." — Daily News, April ISth, 1853. 

I am afraid that I have overtasked you, Major, with 
the matter that I have furnished you in relation to elec- 
tion bribery and corruption ; but I was anxious that what 
I had said on the subject should be found to be fully borne 
out by the facts. You will see that I have sent you only 
comparatively small portions of the proceedings in a few 
of the many Commissions before which bribery and cor- 
ruption were proven. But my aim has been to furnish 
just enough for you to form something of an opinion as 
to the whole — enough for you to be satisfied that the re- 
mark of Mr. Ooppock before the St. Albans Commission, 
which I have quoted, was well-nigh, if not wholly, cor- 
rect ; and that the moral character of the people of this 
country, as a whole, in the matter of the precious and in- 
estimable right of suffrage, is tainted, foully tainted, with 
fraud and corruption. 

EespectfiiUy, your friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 119 



LETTEE XII. 

PASSION OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE FOR BETTING AND HORSE- 
RACING queen's visits to the RACE-FIELD QUEEN'S 

PLATES DONCASTER RACES THE MARQUIS OP EXETER'S 

AND DUKE OF GRAFTON'S "WINNINGS.'' 

London, July 8th, 1853. 

Dear Major : — I have intimated that the passion of 
the people in this country for betting and horse-racing 
seriously affects their moral character. This habit is in- 
dulged in by all classes ; and the horse-race receives direct 
encouragement from all — even from the Queen upon her 
throne, to the ragged and crippled beggar, who stumps 
his weary way to the Derby, and, as he proceeds, begs for 
pence, which he will stake upon the event of the race. 
When I said that the horse-race received encouragement 
from the Queen, I meant that it was sanctioned as well 
by the royal presence upon the race-field as by the more 
substantial aid of the royal and national exchequer. You 
will find both these statements confirmed by the following 
extracts, from English papers : 

" The Queen and Prince Albert went to Ascot races on 
Thursday, accompanied by the whole of Her Majesty's illus- 
trious guests staying at the Castle. Her Majesty returned at 
half-past five o'clock, and the same evening gave a grand din- 
ner, which was served on the magnificent service of gold plate 
in the Waterloo Gallery. Her Majesty had afterwards an 
evening party." — Hull Packet, June 11th, 1853. 

(imperial PARLIAMENT.) 

" On the vote of £221,361 to defray the expenses of admin- 
istration of the Poor-laws, a desultory conversation took place, 
in which Sir H. Yerney, 8ir J. Trollope, Messrs. Baines, 
Hindley, and W. Williams took part. The vote was agreed to. 



120 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

£1*700 were voted for certain offices in Scotland, and £6464 
for officers of the Lord Lieutenant^s household in Ireland. 

On this latter vote being proposed, Mr. W. Williams pro- 
tested against a portion of it: viz., £1514 16s. 2d. for fifteen 
Queen's plates. Public opinion was outraged by plates being 
given for horse-racing. 

Mr. Stanford supported the vote, as it had a tendency to 
improve the breed of horses. In connection with this subject, 
he called attention to the betting-houses, which were now the 
foci of all the blackguardism in London. 

Sir De L. Evans said he had received several letters com- 
plaining of betting-houses. 

Sir W. Jolilfe, in the absence of Mr. Walpole, said that 
betting-houses were under the most serious consideration of 
Government, and measures were anxiously contemplated to 
remedy the evil." — Observer, January ^th, 1852. 

Conveniently blind, Mr. Stanford ^' supported tlie vote, 
as it had a tendency to improve the breed of horses ;" and 
yet, though in the same breath he calls attention to the 
fact that the betting-houses were foci of all the black- 
guardism in London, he shuts his eyes to the effect of 
these foci (receiving so much of their light as they do from 
the encouragement of the great, the powerful, and the rich, 
who indulge in horse-racing) upon the breed of men. 

The subject did, indeed, attract the attention of Gro- 
vernm-ent, and a bill has been passed with reference to the 
reformation of these houses. But is this anything more 
than skinning over of the wound? The betting-houses 
were but one of the ulcers by which the great social 
canker manifested itself on the surface, if I am not very 
much mistaken. If I have rightly observed this people, 
the passion of which I speak has incorporated itself, as it 
were, with their very social constitution. Betting-houses, 
like betting-books, are but instrumentalities by which the 
great scheme of horse-racing, steeple-chase riding, etc., 
is operated. 

I never found time to attend the races at Groodwood, or 
at Epsom, which are the two most celebrated in England, 
I believe ; but I did make a visit to Doncaster, another, 
though a less famous, English stadium in Yorkshire. At 
the instance of Mr. A , of A Hall, whom I have 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 121 

already introduced to your acquaintance, I met him at 
these races in the autumn of 1852. The races com- 
menced on Tuesday, the 14th of September ; but I did 
not get there until Wednesday, the St. Leger day, as it 
is called. I went by train, of course, and was reminded 
of the throng which is found on our roads when our 
people are repairing to mass-meetings, or to State agri- 
cultural fairs. Though Doncaster, as a race-course, be 
not so fashionable or so famous as Goodwood or Epsom, 
yet we have the authority of Southey for saying that 
*'A greater number of families are said to meet each 
other at Doncaster races than at any other meeting of the 
same kind in England." My fellow-travellers were as 
much excited, apparently, by these races, as ever you saw 
our people agitated on their way to a mass-meeting which 
constituted part of the machinery of a presidential cam- 
paign. I must own, in passing, however, that we were 
much more comfortably provided for, and protected in 
our seats within the carriages, than are the passengers 
upon our roads on the occasions to which I refer. 

I was met, very soon after my arrival, by Mr. A , 

who had kindly taken care that I should be provided for 
as to lodgings, etc. In the course of the day, I was intro- 
duced by him to several notabilities. Some noblemen 
with distinguished names, members of the House of Com- 
mons, and gentlemen of eminent position, were either 
thus introduced, or pointed out to me. So many people 
have written about the race-courses in England, that the 
subject is threadbare ; and as my purpose is rather to 
give you an idea of a system than to amuse you with 
details, I shall not dwell upon these details now, but will 
content myself with sending you a condensed statement 
of what I witnessed. The following contains such a state- 
ment : 

''DONCASTER RACES. 

Doncaster fully maintains its position amongst the most im- 
portant race-meetings in the kingdom. And whilst retaining 
a fair portion of aristocratic patronage, its popularity with 
the million is fully upheld, notwithstanding the great and in- 
creasing rivalry of the numerous meetings in other parts of the 
11 



122 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

country. On the present occasion, the stewards were the Eari 
of Derby, R. G. Lumley, and Lord Ribblesdale. The clerk 
of the course was Mr. R. Johnston ; judge, Mr. Clark ; starter, 
Mr. Hibburd. On Monday the Great Northern Station at 
King's-cross was a scene of continual bustle, nearly all the 
trains being heavily freighted, chiefly by the professionals of 
the sporting world. The hunt after lodgings produced the 
usual results — exorbitant prices. Nothing under eight or ten 
guineas was talked of for even decent accommodatiou. 

Wednesday. — The tovm was alive at an early hour, and 
crowds poured in from all parts of the surrounding district, in 
coaches, omnibuses, gigs, and other vehicles. The throng was 
increased later by the arrival of monster trains from Shefiield, 
York, Lincoln, Manchester, and other large towns, besides a 
great influx of Londoners, The weather took an unfavorable 
turn, and a heavy rain continued throughout the whole of the 
afternoon, to the inconceivable mortification of the multitude, 
especially those who had ventured forth without waterproofs 
or umbrellas. There was, however, as numerous an attend- 
ance as usual upon the St. Leger day. The following is a list 
of some of the fashionables present: — The Marquises of Nor- 
manby and Exeter, the Earls of Glasgow, Scarborough, Ches- 
terfield, and Caledon ; Lords Maidstone, Clifden, Exmouth, 
Milton, Bolingbroke, Anson, Galway and lady, R,. Clinton, 
W. Powlett, John Scott, D. Kennedy, F. Kennedy, G. Man- 
ners, Wenlock, F. G. Leveson Gower ; Sirs G. Armitage, T. 
Wichcote, C. Monk, C. B. Houston, S. Blane, Robert Bell, J. 
Trollope, R. Bulkely, Tatton Sykes, E. Baker, G. Boswell, 
W. Booth, Robert Pigot and lady ; Hons. G. Anson, Colonel 
Stanley^ Captain Rous, F. Yilliers, G. W. Fitzwilliam, F. 
Lawley, A. Ellis, H. Forester, Courtenay, Major Needham, 
Admiral Paulett, Major Pitt, W. E. Duncombe and lady ; Ge- 
nerals Hunter and Rietter ; Colonels Taylor and Wyndham ; 
Captains Ramsden, Little, W. Peel, Haworth, Key, Cookson, 
White, De Horsey, Ives, Hepworth, Thoroton, Lowry, Wal- 
lers, Archdall, Cunningham, etc. ; Messrs. G. H. Boswell, W. 
Bosville, Bowes, E. Denison, J. E. Denison, Drinkald, C. L. 
Fox, G. Fitzroy, F. Fitzroy, Gregory, Greville, F. Foljambe, 
Sandford Graham, W. E. Hughes, A. Heathcote, Houeywood, 
A. Johnstone, Jaques, R. Newton, G. Littledale, R. G. Lum- 
ley, Meiklam, Mageuis, Milner, Osbaldiston, R. E. Oliver, 
Payne, Portman, Ramsden, R. Read, J. M. Stanley, Skip- 
worth, B. Stanhope, Thornliill, Thelluson, Yernon, Webster, 
Wauchope, G. Wentworth, etc., etc. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 123 

The Cup-betting in tlie evening was confined to Kingston, 
Teddington, and Stilton — the two first named being so close 
together that it was difficult to say which had the call : Stil- 
ton's party did not appear to be at all sanguine. For the Ce- 
sare witch several lots of twelve were taken against the field, 
Lady Evelyn — who at one time was quoted at as little as eight 
to one, but left off weak at eleven to one — and Le Juif, head- 
ing the selections in every instance. It was mentioned in the 
course of the day that the Marquis of Exeter had accepted 
the stewardship vacant by the close of Lord Derby's term of 
service. 

The first event was a match for 200 sovs. between Lord 
Clifden's Pelion against Lord Glasgow's Conspiracy, which 
was won in a canter by the former. The St. Leger stakes for 
three-year olds; the second to receive 100 sovs. out of the 
stakes ; the winner to pay 100 sovs. towards expenses, 25 to 
the judge, and 25 to the starter ; St. Leger Course ; 116 subs.; 
six started : 

Lord Exeter's Stockwell Norman 1 

Duke of Richmond's Harbinger Flatman 2 

Mrs. Bowes's Daniel O'Rourke F. Butler 3 

Mr. Pedley's Trousseau Templeman 

Mr. J. Scott's Songstress A. Day 

Mr. Duncombe's Alfred the Great Bashani 

Betting at starting : seven to four against Stockwell, five to 
two against Daniel O'Rourke, three to one against Songstress, 
seven to one against Harbinger, and ten to one against Trous- 
seau. 

The start took place a few minutes before three. Alfred 
the Great jumped off with a decided lead, followed in rotation 
and at wide intervals by Harbinger and Stockwell, Scott's two 
next, nearly abreast ; the pace as good as Alfred the Great 
could make it. No change whatever took place until near the 
Red House, where Alfred the Great was joined by Harbinger 
and Stockwell, the latter immediately after giving way. Har- 
binger then sliowed in front, but was headed in a few strides 
by Stockwell, who went on by himself, and won in a canter by 
ten lengths, Harbinger beating Daniel O'Rourke by a length. 

The Municipal stakes, of 200 sovs. each, for two-year olds ; 
second to save his stake ; Red House in : 

Lord Derby's Umbriel Norman 1 

Mr. Payne's Warwhoop Flatman 2 

Mr. W. H. Brooker's Incense Templeman 3 

■ Lord Glasgow's Doublethong .....J. Marson 4 



124 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

Betting : five to four on Umbriel, five to two against In- 
cense, and three to one against Doublethong. 

Won very easily by a length. 

Thursday. — The day was beautifully fine ; the course bene- 
fitted by the rain, and was in capital order, and the attend- 
ance good. The sport excited considerable interest. The 
opening event was a handicap sweepstakes of ten sovs. each, 
with twenty-four subs., for which Mr. Morris's Charity added 
a fourth victory to the previous successes of the Stebbing 
stable. Mr. Worthington's Jaquenetta and Mr. Stephen's Ace 
of Trumps were second and third. 

The Scarborough stakes, of twenty sovs. each, were won in 
a canter by Captain Scott's Allegro. 

The Eglinton stakes, of ten sovs. each, with 100 added, 
presented the largest field of the day, there being forty-eight 
subs. Lord Clifden's Pelion (Charlton) was the winner, Lord 
Derby's Longbow (Butler) being second, and Lord Caledon's 
colt by Simoom third. 

The Cleveland handicap of twenty sovs. was won cleverly 
by a neck by Mr. Meiklam's Evadne, beating Mr. Coombe's 
Brawn and Mr. Flintoff's The Reaper. 

The sweepstakes of ten sovs. each, with fifty added, had 
twenty-five subs. Was won in a canter by Mr. Merry's 
Lambton. 

Friday. — This was a lovely day. The stand was crowded \ 
and there was a greater show of the fair sex than on any of 
the previous days. 

The Doncaster Cup, value 300 sovs., was a magnificent con- 
test, and was won by a neck by Mr. Stanley's Teddington, Mr. 
Morris's Kingston being second, and Hungerford a bad third. 

The Doncaster stakes, of ten sovs. each, had 80 subs. ; only 
two were placed — Lord Derby's Longbow first, and Mr. Dun- 
combe's Alfred the Great second. 

The Town Plate of seventy sovs. was carried off by Mr. 
Dawson's Lerrywheut." — Observer, Sept. 20th, 1852. 

The Earl of Derby, who, as you will see, was one of the 
stewards of this meeting, and was the successful compe- 
titor for some of the stakes, is, perhaps, you know, one of 
the most eminent men in England. He was recently 
Prime Minister. The Marquis of Exeter was the fortu- 
nate owner of the horse which won the St. Leger, and 
is to succeed Lord Derby in the stewardship. This noble- 
man is descended from William Cecil, Lord Burghley, the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 125 

statesman of that name so celebrated during the reign of 
Queen EHzabeth. He is the head of one of the most dis- 
tinguished families in England, a Knight of the Garter, a 
D.C.L., and Lord Lieutenant of two counties, &c. As far 
back as 1836, Southey, in his '^Doctor," copies a para- 
graph from a Sunday newspaper, containing the following 
reference to this noble Marquis : 

'^Pleasures and Profits of the Turf. — We stated in a 
former number, that Lord Exeter's turf profits were for the 
previous season, £26,000." 

I might as well copy the rest of the paragraph, as it 
serves to illustrate this subject. It is as follows : — 

''But we have now before us a correct and consecutive account 
of the Duke of Grafton's winnings from 1811 to 1829 inchisive, 
taking in merely the value of the stakes for which the horses 
ran, and which amounts to no less a sum than £99,211 3s. 4d., 
or somewhat more than £5000 per annum. This, even giving 
in a good round sum for training and outlay, will leave a sufii- 
ciently pleasant balance in hand ; to say nothing of the betting 
book not often, we believe, light in figures. His Grace's 
greatest winnings were in 1822 and in 1825 : in the former of 
these years they amounted to £11,364 5s., in the latter to 
£12,668 16s. 8d." 

By this account you will perceive that the profits of the 
first of these noble lords, earned by horse-racing in one 
season, were $130,000, and that the latter for a long series 
of years was in the receipt of a larger annual income in 
the shape of '' winnings" by horse-racing than the annual 
salary of the President of the United States. 

Horses belonging to the Duke of Beaufort, and other 
distinguished noblemen and gentlemen, were competitors 
in these races at Doncaster ; and many such persons were 
present sharing the sport. One of the stakes was contri- 
buted by the town of Doncaster, and we are told by the 
author whom I have last quoted, that the corporation 
built a '' grand stand upon the course," and contributed 
" annually a plate of the value of £50 to be run for." 

I find that I cannot dispose of the subject within such 

11* 



12G TllK SLAVEHOLDER ABllOAP; OK, 

linu(8 ns ^liovilil bo allot loJ (o ouo loKor. T sliall tliore- 
loro ooiu'hhlo Ihis Ium'o. nuol call your atloiitiou ai^'aiii lo 
I ho inalior in my no\(. Until whioli liino 1 shall remain 
Your obodiout servant and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Major Jones, 

rinovillo, Oa.., U. S. of Amerioa. 



LETTEE XIII. 

TASSTON OF THE ENGLIStl TEOPLE FOR ItETTING AND IIORSE- 

RAOINO THE HOrSE OF eO>I!\IONS AlUOliRNS FOR THE 

PElinV DAY — RACES AT GOOPWOOD AND AT EPSOM — EX- 
TUAORDINARY WAGERS — MR. CORPEN PLAYS THE PART OP 
■\V1EK1NS El.ASUER, ESQ.. AlSn GEN. lUUVPUEUTON EMULATES 

TUAT OF MIX. FRANIv SVMMERY TRIAL OF A CELEBRATED 

TITRJT-MAN FOR FORGERY — SUICIDES BY PATRONS OF THE 
TURF. 

London, July 14th, 1853. 

'Dv.xii Majok, : — Besides the oolebratod raco-coursos 
wliieli I have already mentioned, there are maiiy others 
in a. II i^arts of tho country. Thoro are races and steeple- 
chases at Liverpool, steeple-i'hases at Oundle, races at 
Eewmarket, at iSalisbury, at ]\Ialton, at Chester, at North- 
ampton, at Stockbridge, at AVinchestor, and at various 
other places in England and Ireland. But none aro so 
ia^hionable, nor attract so much of admiration and inte- 
rest, I believe, as the races at Goodwood, and Epsom. Tho 
Derby stakes, of which you have often heard, aro run for 
on the latter course ; and the House of Commons itself 
suspends business and adjourns for the Derby day, as you 
will seo from the following which I cli}^ped irom the 
Observer a few weeks since : 

^'Dcrhif Dai/. — Loixl J. RiissoU gave notice tliat on i\fonday 
next he should uiovo to adjourn the houj;c over Tuesday next, 
as Tuesday was tho Queen's birthday; and, as tliero was but 
one order I'er "Wednesday, lie slunild move tlie further adjourn- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 127 

merit until Thursday, as Wednesday will be the Derby day 
{chaevs).''— Observer, 3Iaij 23, 1853. 

I enclose you extracts from the Observer, in whicli you 
will find parts of an account of these races at Goodwood, 
and Epsom. If you find them too much for your patience, 
you have my permission to skip them. But they, or others 
like them, are necessary to a comprehension of the subject, 
as I have brought it to your attention : 

"GOODWOOD RACES. 

Stewards : The Earl of Zetland, and the Hon. 11. F. Lawley. 
Judj^e : Mr. Clark. Clerk of the Course and Starter : Mr. 
Hibburd. 

This meeting — the greatest of our racing festivals — opened 
on Tuesday last with brilliant success. Notwithstanding that 
the weather had borne a rather threatening appearance, all the 
trains from London Bridge on that day left the station with 
monster freights ; and Brighton, Worthing, Bognor, Chiches- 
ter, and Southsea received an extraordinary influx of visitors. 

Tuesday, July 27. — In the morning there were some heavy 
showers, but suddenly the wind veered to the east, the sun shone 
forth brilliantly, and all was joyous anticipation. On the Grand 
Stand the number of fashionable visitors was greater than is 
remembered to have ever been seen before on a first day. Tlicre 
was a large and distinguished party from Goodwood House 
(the Duke of Richmond's seat), which included Duke Bernard 
of Saxe Weimar, II. R. II. the Duke of Cambridge, Prince 
George of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, Prince and Princess Edward 
of Saxe Weimar, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Duke and 
Duchess of Bedford, Marquis of Waterford and Drogheda, 
Earl Derby, and a long list of aristocratic noblemen and gen- 
tlemen. The day's proceedings passed off with the greatest 
quietness and order. Owing to the high class of the company, 
the duties of the police were comparatively easy, and a lucky 
descent made by the London detectives upon a body of no less 
tlian fourteen well-known 'professionals' among the light- 
fingered gentry — all of whom were seized at the same time, and 
committed by Mr. Henry, the magistrate, for three months to 
the House of Correction — no doubt tended greatly to lessen 
the fatigues of the police during the remainder of the meeting. 
The usual official return of the sport will be found below. 

The first race on the card was the Craven Stakes (Ilandi- 



128 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 

cap) of 5 sovs. each, with 50 added, a mile and a quarter, 13 
subscribers — a fine race from the distance home, was won by 
Mr. Powney's Lamartine (A. Day) beating Maria by a head, 
Lithograph third, and six not placed. Sweepstakes of 300 
sovs. for four year olds, the second to save his stake, 3 miles 
and 5 furlongs, 11 subs., by Mr. Nicholl's Newminster (Tem- 
pleman) beating Harpsichord easijy by two lengths, Phlegethon 
•third, and Midas. Fifty Pounds Plate, added to a Sweepstakes 
of 5 sovs. each, the winner to be sold for 100 sovs., with allow- 
ances if to be sold for less, T. Y. C, 13 subs., by Mr. Y. King's 
Gold Dust (Bundy), beating in a canter by four lengths Yivan- 
diere, who beat Mustang by half a length. The Levant Stakes 
of 50 sovs. each for two year olds, the second to save his stake, 
half a mile, by Mr. Osbaldeston's Sister to Mountain Deer 
(Hiett) beating in a canter Lascelles, William Kufus third, and 
five oth-ers. The Gratwicke Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h-ft.,for 
three year olds, the second to receive 200, and the third to save 
his stake, one mile and a half, by Earl Derby's Longbow (F. 
Butler) beating Father Thames by a head, Nabob, a bad third, 
and Houlakin, King Pepin, Claverhouse, and Red Hind. The 
Ham Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h-ft., for two year olds, the se- 
cond to receive 200, T. Y. C, by Duke of Richmond's Refrac- 
tion colt (Templeman), after a very close race with Defiance, 
winning by a head, Phrygia, Belgravia, and Kitty of Coleraine 
filly close up. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three year 
olds, one mile and a half, by Lord Exeter's Stockwell (Norman) 
beating Harbinger by a length and a half. 

The Cup Day — Thursday. — The extreme fineness of the 
weather, the number and rank of the visitors, and the excel- 
lence of the racing, combined to render this one of the most 
successful cup days ever witnessed. The racing commenced 
with — 

The Sussex Stakes of 25 sovs. each for two year olds, T. Y.C., 
which was won by Mr. H. Drewe's Defiance (Rogers) beating 
Belle Sauvage filly (Flatman) in a canter by five lengths. The 
First Year of the Bentinck Memorial Stakes, for two year old, 
T. Y. C, by Duke of Richmond's Refraction colt beating Sit- 
tingbournebyhalf a length, Auld Acquaintance third, and Bel- 
gravia, William Rufus, and Talfourd. The Racing Stakes of 
50 sovs. each, for three year olds, one mile, by Lord Exeter's 
Stockwell (Norman), (the favorite at 5 to 4), beating in a 
canter by a length Maidstone, Father Thames, and Lucio. A 
Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, for two year olds, T. Y. C. Mr. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 129 

Greville's Exhibition and Mr. W. H. Brook's Incense divided 
the stakes, Incense walking over The Molccombe Stakes of 
50 sovs. each, for two year olds, by Mr. Howard's Elmsthoiije 
(A. Day), beating Estrella in a canter by two lengths, and 
Margaret of Anjou. 

The Goodwood Cup, value 300 sovs., the rest in specie sub- 
scriptions of 20 sovs. each, with 100 added ; the second horse 
to receive 100 sovs. out of the stakes, the third 30 ; two miles 
and a half. 

Mr. Morris's Kingston, 3 yrs., 7st. 41b. (carried 7st. 61b.) Flatman 1 

Mr. Howard's Little Harry, 3 yrs., 6st, 131b Cowley 2 

Mr. J. M. Stanley's Teddington, 4 yrs., 9st. 31b • F. Butler 3 

Mr. Merry's Hobbie Noble, 3 yrs., 7st. 41b. ., Knott 4 

The following" also started, but were not placed : Newmin- 
ster. Frantic, Stilton, Buckhound, Hervine, and Allegro. 

Betting : 7 to 4 against Stilton, 5 to 1 against Little Harry, 
6 to 1 against Kingston, 6 to 1 against Hobbie Noble, 10 to 1 
against Teddington, 12 to 1 against jSTewminster, and 20 to 1 
each against any other. Hobbie Noble took the lead till the 
turn out of the course, when Buckthorn went three or four 
lengths in advance of Hobbie Noble, the latter being twice as 
many before Allegro, who was in the van of the ruck. Buck- 
thorn carried the running to the half-mile post, and there gave 
way, and Hobbie Noble again obtained the lead, which he held 
to the distance, where he was passed by Little Harry, leading, 
Kingston, and Teddington. A fine race home with this trio 
ended in favor of Kingston by half a length, Little Harry beat- 
ing Teddington by three parts of a length ; Hobbie Noble a 
bad fourth, Frantic fifth, and the others beaten off. 

This race was followed by the Second Year of the Third 
Bentinck Memorial Stakes for three year olds, Gratwicke 
Stakes Course, won by Duke of Bichmond's Harbinger (Flat- 
man), beating easily by a length the Nabob and Longbow. 
Longbow went on the wrong side of the post at starting. 

The Duke of Richmond's Plate of 100 sovereigns. New 
Mile :— 

Mr. Jacques's Vivandiere, 4 yrs., 6st. 101b Wells 1 

Mr. E. Parr's Sanita, 3 yrs., "est. 71b Hiett 2 

Mr. W. Hale's Merry Peal, 4 yrs., 7st. 41b T. Smith 8 

The following also started, but were not placed : — Land- 
grave, Radulphus, Catalpa, Newport, Miss Hayes, Timid 
Fawn, No- Chance, Alfred the Great, The Bishop, Sagacity, 

I 



130 TUE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

by Vouisou out of rassioii, cli. c. by Birdeatchor out of He- 
cate, Phnnstoad, aud Kuavery. 

Betting': l> to 1 eaeli aixainst Alfred llie Great, Catalpa, 
Kadulplms, aud riuuistead, 9 to 1 against Timid Fawn, and 
10 to 1 eaeli against Sanita and jNliss llayes. AVon by ahead, 
a length and a' half between the seeoud and third, and Timid 
Fawn a bad fourth. 

The Anglesey riate of 50 sovs., gentlemen riders, Craven 
Course ; won by Capt. Lane's Agis. aged, list. liMb. (owner), 
beating Holler,* Calorie. St. Patriek, and John of Herwiek. 

Friday. — The 50th anniversary of this unrivalled meeting- 
was brought to a eonelusion with one of the best day's sports 
ever remembered. For the various raees to-day, GO horses 
started, and the amount of the prizes realized i:25o5. The 
gTOSS total for the week is as follows: — Number of starters, 
256 ; value of the stakes, .i'lG,lo5. Lord Ivibblesdale and the 
Hon. F. Lawley have accepted the stewardship for 1853. 

After the raees were over, a great number of betting offices 
in Loudon closed their establishments. It is said that twenty 
of the owners have shut up shop. Up to ten or eleven o'clock 
on Wednesday night, many hundreds were received to back 
dilVerent horses for the cup, one man in the neighborhood of 
the British Museum having received nearly £500, after the re- 
sult of the stakes was published, witli which sum, as well as the 
immense amount which must have been deposited on other 
events, he has decamped. It is reported that the sum wanted 
from another party of Camden Town is over £80,000, one in- 
dividual alone losi^ng £20,im).''— Observer, Augud 2(/, 1852. 



"ErSOM RACES. 

This annual sporting festival commenced on Tuesday, under 
the most propitious intluences ; bright skies and pleasant 
breezes compensating in some degree for the dreary weather 
which attended the early meetings of the season. The 'open- 
ing day," never attractive to the masses, did not draw more 
than an average attendance to the Downs — the nmjoriiy being, 
as usual, composed of that class who have a direct interest iu 
the sporting" business of the day. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 131 



THE DERBY DAY. 

Wednesday, May 25. — The attraction of the Derby has this 
year surpassed all precedent. Never, perhaps, was so vast 
a multitude collected upon any similar occasion on the Downs 
as on Wednesday last. From an early hour in the morning 
the trains continued to arrive in ((uick succession, each adding 
its numbers to the crowds that poured into the town and 
blocked up the streets. 

Besides the immense number of visitors who preferred the 
ready and rapid mode of transit by the rail, hundreds of per- 
sons, tempted by the extraordinary fineness of the weather, 
came by the road, which was thronged with vehicles of every 
grade and fashion — from the costermonger's donkey-cart to 
the aristocratic barouche or four-in-hand — recalling the almost 
forgotten glories of the highway on the Derby day. The 
brilliancy of the sun produced, however, its invariable conse- 
quence, in the clouds of dust with which the outsiders were 
completely enveloped. 

Praise is due to the officials at the London Bridge Sta- 
tion for the arrangements by which the public were admit- 
ted to the trains without the slightest difficulty or confusion, 
and for the order and regularity with which the transit of so 
vast an assemblage was effected to and from Epsom. 

The first race (the Carew stakes) being over, the excitement 
commenced in earnest, as the time for deciding the great event 
of the day approached. At length, after an anxious interval, 
the telegraph boards in the enclosure announced that twenty- 
eight of the thirty-two horses named on the card were pre- 
])ared to compete for what Mr. Disraeli has called 'the blue 
riband of the turf.' The horses soon afterwards cantered up 
the course from the paddock, which, for the accommodation 
of owners and trainers of horses, was again thrown open Ijy 
3Ir. Arthur Heathcote. After due time had been allowed for 
the inspection of the horses, Mr. Hiljburd, the starter, took 
charge of the troupe, and conducted them to the starting-post, 
and at the first signal got them away in beautiful order. At 
this moment it would be difficult to imagine a more animated 
and exciting scene than the course presented. The Grand 
Stand was resplendent with summer fashions, and the private 
stands were crowded with the members and friend;^ of the 
stewards and gentlemen of the Jocky Clnb — in short, a more 
brilliant meeting, both as regards the number of visitors and 
the fineness of the weather, has never been seen on Epsom 
Downs. 



132 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OK, 

It is somo yeaVv^ siiu'o (ho Porbv was invostcd with so nmcli 
mystorv. iutorosl, uiui iinpi»rtjuu'e — n circumstunce cliiolly iittri- 
Initable to (ho Cinoas ami llouoywood luovomont?!. Thoy, how- 
ever, avIio, wiili an nn[>reiudii'ed reg'ard, senitiuized AVest Aus- 
tralian and Sit (ini>-bounio when they pidlcd up after the raeo 
for (he Two Thousaiui, had never any doubt of their being 
(irst and seeond for the Derby. Throuii'h li'ood report and 
evil report. AVest Australian tirndy nniintained (he lead in the 
rino'. and fully ilid he justify the eontidenee of his baekers. It 
doubtless Avill be well remembered that Mr. Bowes aehieved a 
similar (riumph last year wi(h Daniel (V.Uc>urke ; in iSoO lie 
won the Derby with Mundiu'. and in 18-13 with Cotherstono. 

The sport came off as follows : 

The Derby stakes, of tifty sovs. each, h. ft. for three-year 
olds; eolts 8st. ^Ib., lillies 8st. 21b.; the seeond to reeeive'lOO 
sovs. out of the stakes; New' Course (one mile and a half); 
195 subs.: 

Mr. Bowes's West Austrnliaiu by Molbouvno F. Kutlor 1 

Dako of Bedford's SittiTigbourno, by Chatlijuu 8. Kogers 2 

Mr. roAvnoy's Oiuonfs. by Toviohstono or Epu'us Bumby 3 

Mr. Howard's Katapbiu, by The Baron 4 

The follow iuii' also ran : — Baron Ivothsehikrs Orestes, Lord 
liondesborouii-li's Mavor of Hull, Oount Hatthvanv's Stone 
IMover. ]Vlr. E. 11. dark's Mr. Sykes, Mr. .AlaVe's* Bharold, 
Lord Exeter's Filbert, ^Ir. Perren's louie, Ijord Derby's Uni- 
briel. Duke of Bielnnond's Pharos, t'aptain liane's isinnyhani- 
luer, Lord Clifden's Cheddar, Lord Caledon'sDrinee Leopold, 
Mr. B AYay's Broeket. Mr. Kuowles's Talfourd, Mr. J. IM. 
Stanley's Orinoeo, Mv. Howard's Laseelles. Air. Oliver's Kthel- 
bert, Air. Surteeson's lloueywood, Ah*. Ivowan's Finn nui Coul, 
Mr. J. Aylingen's Rattle, Mr. Thompson's Coomberland Stathes- 
mon. Lord Clasii"ow's Barbatus, Lord Kg-linton's A^'ander- 
deeken, Mr. AVilkins's Be^'u-v. 



An excellent start, all getting off in a cluster except Coom- 
berland Stathesmon, who was some lengths behind. Cheddar 
and Ciiieas started in front, but they had scarcely proceeded 
half-way up the hill when ITmbriel took up the running, with 
Cheddar, Cineas. Orestes. Ethelbert, Xinnyhannner. and Battle 
w ell laid up ; and directly in their wake were Pharos, Honey- 
wood, and Filbert ; AVest Australian, and Sittingbourne in 
close attendance upon him, being the next two. No material 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 133 

cliange occurred until they arrived at the turn into the straij^ht, 
when Uinl)riel be^^an to drop off; Rattle immediately went on 
with the lead, but at the road was passed by ('ineas, and at 
the same time West Australian, with Sittingbourne at his 
quarters, was seen to draw forward. At the distance, these 
two sinf^led themselves out, and a very exciting race home 
ended in favor of West Australian ]>y a neck. Rataplan, who 
left the ruck in the last (piarter of a mile, and gradually im- 
proved his position, finished about half a length behind the 
third. Honey wood and Rattle were the next two. Rarbatus 
puUed up lame. Run in 2min. 55^ sec. Amount of the 
stakes, 5425 so vs. Jerry Kent was scratched at 10 "30 A. M. 
The Epsom Town Plate of 55 sovs. (handicap^ for all ages; 
one mile : 

Mr. Diinkald's Snarry, by Sleight of Hand Aldcroft 1 

Mr. itceves'H Abdallah Bartholomew 2 

Mr. Mageuis's Sandhurst Oliver 3 

The Letting opened at six to four against Telescope, ?jut 
closed at two to one against him ; two to one against Snarry. 
A fine race with Snarry, Abdallah, and Sandhurst. Won by 
a neck, the second Ijcaling the third ]>y three-quarters of a 
length ; Telescope a bad fourth. 

The Great Exhibition Plate of 100 sovs. (handicap) for all 
ages ; one mile and a quarter : 

Mr. Mngenis's Clair de Lune, by Lancrcost Oliver 1 

Mr. Wigfran's Forrester (h. b.) NVelU 2 

Mr. Y. King's Narcissus Charlton 3 

Retting: Six to four against Narcissus, three to one against 
Clair de Lune, five to one against Forester, six to one against 
Puritan. Won cleverly by a length, a neck only between 
second and third. Sweetheart and Iresine were fourth and 
liCth. 



THE OAKS DAY. 

Friday, May 21th. — The anticipations of a numerous and 
fashionable attendance for the Oaks were fulfilled by the re- 
sult ; for, although the Downs were not encumbered with an 
enormous mass of human beings, as on AVednesday, the com- 
pany was far more select. The large proportion of private 
carriages with fashionable parties on the hill, and the number 
of ladies on the grand stand, rendered this a most successful 
termination of the meeting. The private stand and the en- 
12 



134 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

closure exhibited the usual array of leaders of the turf and 
business men. The morning, though fine, was exceedingly 
close and sultry, and certain indications of an approaching 
thunderstorm were observed. No change, however, took 
place in the weather until after the Oaks race, when the rain 
began suddenly to descend, accompanied by thunder and 
lightning ; and. so violent was the storm, that it caused a 
general rush of the company to every available place of shelter. 
The grand stand and all the booths on the course were instan- 
taneously filled to suftbcation ; but numbers, unable to get 
under cover, were thoroughly drenched in a very few minutes. 
For nearly an hour the rain fell incessantly, and the last two 
races were run in a perfect deluge. 

The following are the details of the day's sport : 
The Members' Plate of fifty sovs.; the winner to be sold for 
200 sovs. if demanded ; one mile and a quarter. 

Lord J. Scott's Young England , Whitehouse 1 

Mr. J. Dawson's Honesty Barker 2 

Mr. Cooper's Desdemona.... ..Wells 3 

Mr. Vickers's Psaltery Castleman 4 

Betting : Even on Desdemona, five to two against Young 
England, nine to two against Honesty, and five to one against 
Psaltery. Honesty made play, and, after the first half-mile, 
was joinc'l by Young England, who waited to the distance, 
when he went in advance, and finally won very easily by a 
length and a half; a good race for second place Honesty, 
beating Desdemona by a head, and a neck only between third 
and fourth. The winner was claimed." — 06seruer, Maij SOth, 
1853. 



In what I have sent, you have seen enough, I am sure, 
to convince you that this practise is not only intensely 
fascinating to the English people, but that it may be 
said to constitute a prominent feature in their social sys- 
tem. It obviously affords a common ground of interest, 
on which the Sovereign and the Chartist, the Peer and 
the Eadical, do often meet and ■ sympathize. Here, 
whilst their inmates are absorbed in the same engross- 
ing speculation, the donkey-cart jostles the duchess' 
chariot. And here the cripple on crutches looks up into 
the face of the splendid horseman for a factor of thought, 
which may enable him also to solve that problem of 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 135 

chances upon which they each propose to stake, or have 
staked, their money, and on which the brains of each are 
at work. Is it any wonder that the passion of betting, 
and its results, are so all-pervading ? 

What are some of those results ? Southey, in the same 
work to which I have referred, tells us that '' horse-races 
excite evil desires, call forth evil passions, encourage evil 
propensities, lead the innocent into temptation, and give 
opportunities to the wicked. And the good which arises 
from such amusements, either as mere amusement (which 
is, in itself, unequivocally a good, when altogether inno- 
cent), or by circulating money in the neighborhood, or 
by tending to keep up an excellent breed of horses, for 
purposes of direct utility, these consequences are dust in 
the balance, when compared with the guilt and misery 
that arise from gambling." It is easy to see how such a 
practice, thus pervading all ranks of society, and receiving 
the sanction and encouragement of — nay, fostered and 
sustained by — the great and powerful of the land, will 
nurture, as one of the " evil propensities " above referred 
to, a fondness for betting, or gambhng in chances gene- 
rally, among all classes of people. That ingenious and 
gifted author, Mr. Charles Dickens, saw it when he 
sketched the following scene : 

'' ' I see there's a notice up this morning about Boffer,' 
observed Mr. Simmery; ^poor devil, he's expelled the 
house.' 

' I'll bet you ten guineas to five he cuts his throat,' said 
Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 

' Done,' replied Mr. Simmery. 

' Stop ; I bar,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thought- 
fully. ' Perhaps he may hang himself.' 

^ Very good,' said Mr. Simmery, pulling out the gold 
pencil-case again. ' I've no objection to take you that 
way — say makes way with himself.' 

' Kills himself, in fact,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 

'Just so,' said Mr. Simmery, putting it down. ' Flasher, 
ten guineas to five Bofi'er kills himself — within what time 
shall we say ?' 

' A fortnight,' suggested Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 



136 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

' Confound it, no/ rejoined Mr. Simmery, stopping for 
an instant to smash a fly witli a ruler ; ' say a week.' 

^ Split the difference/ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire; 
'make it ten days.' 

'Well, ten days/ rejoined Mr. Simmery. 

So it was entered down in the little books, that Boffer 
was to kill himself within ten days, or Wilkins Flasher, 
•Esquire, was to hand over to Frank Simmery, Esquire, 
the sum of ten guineas ; and that if Boffer did kill him- 
self within that time, Frank Simmery, Esquire, would pay 
to Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, five guineas instead. 

'I'm very sorry he has failed,' said Wilkins Flasher, 
Esquire. ' Capital dinners he gave.' 

' Fine port he had, too,' remarked Mr. Simmery. ' We 
are going to send our butler to the sale to-morrow, to 
pick up some of that sixty-four.' 

' The devil you are !' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. 
' My man is going, too. Five guineas my man outbids 
your man.' 

'Done.' 

Another entry was made in the little books," etc. 

That persons of some distinction in this country might 
have sat for the original of this picture, you will see from 
the following extract : 

"extraordinary wagers. 

Mr. Cobden has not hitherto been ranked amongst the class 
called 'sporting men,' and yet he has made a 'sporting bet.' 
We doubt if he would find a recognition amongst the ' swells' 
of the Turf Club, or be able to establish a locus standi with 
the 'legs' of Tattersall's. And yet he has laid a wager that 
tops some of those fast-uns. In a speech to the members of 
the Peace Society at Manchester, the Honorable member for 
the West Riding talked of any probable invasion of England 
as a moral impossibility : it was all Lombard street to a China 
orange, in sporting parlance. He then and there offered to 
forfeit £10,000 down— to the Editor of the Manchester Guar- 
dian, in the event of an invasion of Great Britain and Ireland 
— we hope Ireland is included this time — on condition that 
the editor aforesaid would pay in the meanwhile Is. a week, 
or £2 12s. a year to the Manchester Infirmary. This was 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 137 

certainly long odds, as tliej say in the Ring. Still there were 
no ' takers.' The editor was not tempted by the ' capital prize' 
of £10,000 to take a ticket in this 'peaceable' lottery, and for 
a while there was to be found no one courageous — or humane 
— enough to ' book' the proposed venture. At length a man- 
of-war — a regular believer in ' guns and drums and wounds' — 
heaven save the mark ! — comes boldly forward, and declares 
his resolution to pay the £2 12s. a year to the Manchester 
Infirmary. Lieut. Gen. Brotherton is the happy man, that 
looks upon himself as the destined lucky recipient of the ' great 
national sweep' of full £10,000 — no bad prize money for the 
commencement of a campaign. In reply to the challenge of 
the soldier, Mr. Cobden names his solicitor, and desires that 
the bond should be promptly prepared. The full ' pound of 
flesh' — the warrant and the forfeiture of the bond — is to be 
nominated after the true and regular forms of law. The court 
awards it, and the law approves it. 



We have in our minds a great many such 'bubble bets,' that 
have come to nothing, and all without the aid of dramatic 
incident or effect. Instances are numerous enough of such 
extravagant and baseless wagers, full of sound and fury, sig- 
nifying nothing. There is one at hand, so apt and appropri- 
ate, that we shall quote it here entire — ■ the more so, as it is 
not entirely foreign from the question at issue, and that it re- 
produces, in the language of the learned Chief Justice Lord 
Ellenborough, who was moved for a new trial, the somewhat 
apposite statement that in those days French invasions were 
annually threatened, and were deprecated weekly in every 
church. 



The following is an accurate abstract of the case, which 
will not be read without interest in the present day. The time 
is 1812, and the scene the York Assizes, and the Court of 
King's Bench, at Westminster. Before proceeding any fur- 
ther, however, it is but fair to inform the reader that General 
Brotherton has declined to 'take the odds,' as will be seen by 
his last letter, also subjoined ; and that, therefore, the affair, 
as regards the parties, is virtually at an end. The moral, of 
the case, however, remains the same, and is held fully to bear 
out these observations. 

^Case on a Bet — Gilbert v. Sykes. — At the York Assizes in 
March, a trial came on in which the Rev. B. Gilbert was plain- 
12* 



138 THE SLAVEHOLDER AEPvOAD ; OE, 

tiff, and Sir Mark M. Sykes, Bart., defendant. It appeared 
that the baronet, at his own table, in a dinner party, durini^ a 
conversation respecting: tlie Imzard to wliich the life of Bona- 
parte was exposed, had offered, npon the receipt of 100 g-ni- 
neas, to pay a guinea a day as long as he should remain alive. 
Mr. Gilbert suddenly took up the offer; but, finding that the 
sense of the company was against making a serious matter of 
a bet proposed at a moment of conviviality, he said, ' If you 
will submit, Sir Mark, to ask it as a favor, you may be off.' 
This the baronet refused to do ; the 100 guineas were sent by 
Mr. G., of which Sir M. acknowledged the receipt, and he had 
continued paying the guinea a day for nearly three years. At 
length he declined further payment, and this action was for the 
recovery of the sum still due upon the contract. 

Mr. Topping, for the defendant, contended, first, that there 
was no serious intention of betting upon tlie part of Sir M. 
Sykes, but that he was surprised by the hasty acceptance of 
the offer of the clergyman. He then, on the supposition that 
it was regarded as a real bet, advanced an argument that Mr. 
Gilbert, having thus a beneficial interest in the life of Bona- 
parte, might be induced, in case of his invading this island, to 
use means for protecting from personal danger an inveterate 
enemy of his country. 

The judge, after stating the evidence to the jury, with his 
observations, left them to decide the fact whether there was an 
intention of betting on the part of Sir M. Sykes, and reserv- 
ing the point of law. The jury returned a verdict for the de- 
fendant. 

On April the 16th, tlic case was brouglit before the King's 
Bench, where 3Ir. Park moved for a rule to show cause why 
the verdict for the defendant should not be set aside, and a 
new trial granted — the verdict having been found against all 
the evidence produced. He recapitulated the circumstances 
of the transaction, and said that Baron Thompson, in his 
charge to the jurr, had treated the contract rather as for an 
annuity than a wager ; and, however hastily it had been 
adopted by the plaintiff', put it to them Avhether it had not 
been persisted in by the defendant. It was no wager that 
Bonaparte would come to his end by violent means. 

Lord Ellinborough, in granting the rule, said that he was 
very sorry this question should come to be argued in a court 
of law ; but unless there Avas, in the nature of the bet, any- 
thing of an immoral or impolitic tendency, it was a legal con- 
tract, and must be supported. He would not declare what 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 139 

relief mi^lit be obtained elsewhere, under all tlie circum- 
stances ; but, as the defendant went on paying for tliree years, 
the fact of tlie contract seemed to be clearly established, and 
the jury had certainly gone beyond their province in finding 
for tlic defendant. 

The case was again brought under consideration before the 
Court of King's Bench, on June 11 and 15. After the coun- 
sel had held theii' argument respecting the nature of the con- 
tract, and the interest of the parties in the event which was its 
sul)ject, liOrd Ellinborough said, that although the Court 
might differ as to the grounds of their opinion, they all con- 
curred that no new trial ought to be granted in this case. The 
olijection to this wager was its tendency to produce public 
mischief. At a time when the enemy's threats of invasion 
were annual, and deprecated weekly in every church, could it 
be said that, in the event of Bonaparte's landing, the interest 
of 3G5 guineas per annum to preserve his life was too remote ? 
Besides, one great object of the nation ought to be to obviate 
the suspicion of attempting the assassination of Bonaparte, 
with which it had (he hoped unjustly) been charged ; and to 
prevent a war of assassination, with wliich any attempt of that 
kind would not fail to be revenged. He could not say that the 
verdict for tlie defendant was proper on the ground that the 
bet was not deliberately entered into ; but, looking into all the 
circumstances of the conversation upon which this contract 
was founded, and the contract itself, he thought the rule for a 
new trial ought to be discharged. 

The other three judges delivered a similar opinion, and the 
rule was accordingly discharged." — Observer, February ^th, 
1853. 

The '' evil propensities " whicli this practice encourages 
are thus partially indicated. In the following report you 
have further evidence of the same sort, and of '^ the op- 
portunities " which it affords '' to the wicked/' as well as 
of '' the guilt and misery " which arise from such gambling. 

"CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT, OCT. 29. 

Before Mr. Justice Gresswell. 

Forgery. — Ignatius Francis Coyle, who has been long con- 
nected with the turf, and was mixed up with the celebrated 
* Running Rein ' case, surrendered to take his trial on a charge 
of feloniously uttering a forged promissory note for £1150, 



140 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE^ 

with intent to defraud Henry Yiscount Clifden ; another count 
charged an intent to defraud Alexander M'Eachej Alleyne. 

Yiscount Clifden deposed that the promissory note now pro- 
duced for £1150 was not written or authorized by him to be 
written. He never was under any obligation to the prisoner. 

Cross-examined : The signature is not like witness' hand- 
writing. Witness knew the prisoner as a betting man. He 
betted with him, and had won and lost. 

Captain Alexander M'Eachey Alleyne (the prosecutor) de- 
posed that he was formerly in the 89th regiment. He is now 
26 years of age. After returning from Canada, in 1846, he for 
the first time had bets on the turf, on race-horses. In 1849 he 
knew the prisoner, and betted with him. In June, 1849, he 
lent the prisoner about £200, and from that time to June, 1850, 
he lent him other sums, in all about £2000. In January, 1850, 
he owed him £ltOO for money advanced, &c., and he (prisoner) 
came to witness' lodgings on the subject of the debt, and said 
he had Lord Clifden's note for £1150, which was a perfectly 
good security. The prisoner handed witness the note, and 
witness gave him a check for £350. He afterwards lent the 
prisoner £150. At the Derby, in 1850, witness had transac- 
tions jointly with the prisoner, and lost between £8,000 and 
£10,000, partly on the prisoner's account, and partly on his 
own. The prisoner's share of the loss was nearly £3000, but 
witness charged him only £2300, and actually paid that sum 
for him. After the race, he applied to the prisoner, who re- 
quested witness to meet him at Furnival's Inn, and witness, 
with his brother (Captain Holder Alleyne), went to Wood's 
Hotel, Furnival's Inn, where he saw the prisoner and his friend, 
Mr. Charles Coghlan, The prisoner said something about his 
time being come, and was leaving the room in despair, when 
Captain Holder Alleyne followed, and they both returned to- 
gether. ■ The prisoner then said to witness that he had forged 
Lord Clifden's name on the note, in order to raise money to 
send to his brother in Australia; that if witness would not 
prosecute, he would do all in his power to repay him; that he 
was wholly mined, but that if let off, he would work for witness 
all his life, and would never forget his kindness. He threat- 
ened to throw himself from the monument, and all sorts of 
things, and at last prosecutor consented to take his promissory 
note, payable on demand, for £4300, and a memorandum, pro- 
duced, stating that this promissory note was for cash advanced 
and other liabilities incurred, including Lord Clifden's note, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 141 

and that said note was not genuine. The note was never pre- 
sented to Lord Clifden for payment. In January, 1851, wit- 
ness instituted proceedings at the police court against the pri- 
soner, but the proceedings were withdrawn, and in July last 
the present indictment was preferred. 

Cross-examined by Mr. James, Q. C. : Witness had retired 
from the army. He became acquainted with the. prisoner in 
184T. They were on intimate terms. He never lodged with 
him. He had dined with him after the bill was said to be a 
forgery. Witness was not a defaulter at the Derby in 1850. 
The proceedings at the police office were withdrawn on Coyle's 
promising to pay the money. Mr. Clarkson was witness' 
counsel at the police office. He did not recollect hearing Mr. 
Clarkson say that the charge was withdrawn because it was 
believed that, prisoner had uttered the forgery without a guilty 
knowledge. After that, witness went before the grand jnry. 
During the interval a malicious prosecution had been got up 
against prosecutor, in which prisoner was a witness. AVitness 
and his brother. Captain Holder Alleyne, were indicted for de- 
frauding Mr. Kennedy of a large sum of money. The case was 
removed, at witness' instance, to the Court of Queen's Bench. 
Witness was in America at the time the alleged offence occurred. 
He never received <£2'700 of the money of Kennedy. His bro- 
ther did win £7000 of Kennedy on a bet, and that was the 
subject of the indictment against witness and his brother. Wit- 
ness never received a shilhng of it. His brother made him a 
present of .£500, and lent him another £500 shortly after win- 
ning the bet, but this was no part of the money won. Mr, 
Kennedy was a lieutenant in witness' regiment. Witness' 
brother had placed £1600 to witness' account, but it was no 
part of the proceeds of the bet He does not believe it came 
from that money, but he does not know from what source it 
did come. His brother promised to give him money when he 
won the match. He had a celebrated trotting mare which he 
matched with Kennedy to do a certain number of miles in an 
hour, and in ten days after the match came off, witness received 
the money. This was in January, 184t. Kennedy left the 
regiment and went to India. Kennedy took proceedings in 
Chancery, but withdrew them and instituted the malicious pro- 
secution. Witness left the turf, he is happy to say, in 1850. 
He never plays. [A letter was here shown to witness.] That 
letter is in my handwriting. 

Mr. James : I see that in that letter reference is made to 
something about 'borrowing a house to do a plant/ and there 



142 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR; 

is also something about some 'nice young fledglings.' Can 
you tell us the meaning of those expressions ? ' 

Witness : I don't know the meaning of them. This letter 
was sent to a person who was my intimate friend. I don't 
know the meaning of 'borrowing a house to do a plant.' I 
suppose it means making bets, or that sort of thing. 

Mr. James : Is it play ? 

Witness : 'No, I never play. 

Mr. James : What is the meaning of a ' fledging,' upon the 
turf? [Laughter.] 

Witness : I suppose it means a man who bets. I can give 
no other explanation. 

Mr. James : Upon your oath, do not the expressions in the 
letter mean to get inexperienced persons in some place for the 
purpose of robbing them ? 

Witness : No. A man may go to a place, and people may 
bet with him. 

Mr. James : Do you know a person named Flower ? 

Witness : I have seen him, but I don't know him. I don't 
recollect hearing that he was a man of considerable wealth. 

Mr. James : Was he a 'fledgling?' [A laugh.] 

Witness : I should say he was. 

Mr. James : Did he ' get it over the head and ears ?' 

Witness : I should say he did. 

Mr. James : Pray what means ' getting it over the head 
and ears ?' 

Witness : It means what I had at the Derby in 1850 [a 
laugh]. I heard that Kennedy lost about £8000 by betting 
[a laugh]. Witness proceeded : After 1850 witness repeatedly 
betted with the prisoner. Witness was not excluded from the 
betting ring at Newmarket. In autumn, 1850, prisoner made 
a bet for witness in Cambridgeshire, and witness asked him to 
pay Mr. Lutt £100 out of the money he owed. Witness dined 
with prisoner during the present year, but he only saw him on 
the subject of his debt. Witness paid his losses on the Derby 
with his own money. He did not say in a letter, ' I want 
money badly, and I want some nice fledglings to do a plant.' 

Re-examined : My mother is a lady of fortune, and she has 
assisted me. I have sold some property which realized £5000 
or £6000. The transactions with Captain Kennedy took place 
in 1841, and I never heard of any criminal proceedings until 
the prisoner was charged with this offence. I do not know 
how the prisoner became acquainted with the affair of Mr. Ken- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 143 

nedy. There was no inquiry before a magistrate, but they went 
behind my back and preferred a bill. The expressions relating 
to 'doing a plant' and 'fledglings' were not my own expres- 
sions, but were reported by me as a message from another 
person. 

Captain Holder Alleyne, elder brother of the prosecutor, de- 
posed to the admission by the prisoner, at Furnival's Inn, of the 
forgery of Lord Clifden's name. Cross-examined : lie does 
not consider himself a defaulter. He owed £12,000 after the 
Derby, in 1850. He does not know that he was posted as a 
defaulter on the settling day. He had won about £3000. He 
left the army solely because he wished to leave it. In (ilanada 
he formed an acquaintance, he was sorry to say, with Mr. Ken- 
nedy. Witness added : I won 7000 guineas of him, which he 
paid me. He was not an old man. I don't know that he was 
at that time not more than 19 years of age. The money was 
won upon a trotting mare, called in America 'Fanny Jenks.' 
I altered her name to ' Pigeon' [a laugh]. She was a very 
good Pigeon [renewed laughter]. The terms of the match 
were — £100 that she did not trot 12 miles in the hour, £200 
she did not do 14, £400 she did not do 15, £800 she did not 
do 16, and the amount was increased to £3200 that she did not 
trot 18 miles within the hour ; and there was also a bet of a 
thousand guineas that she did not do 15 miles in the hour. 
The mare had trotted several matches in America, and was 
well known by the name of 'Fanny Jenks.' Mr. Kennedy 
might have heard of her as being a fast trotter in America, 
but I can't tell whether he knew it was the same mare I brought 
to England. I did not tell Mr. Kennedy that the mare was 
fit to trot for a man's life at a time when she was lame. I am 
not aware that Mr. Kennedy left England entirely ruined by 
his losses. I first heard of an indictment being preferred against 
me about two years ago. There was an arrangement that the 
trial should take place, but my solicitor withdrew the record. 
I believe that my brother, who is a clergyman, also occasionally 
made bets on the turf through my brother Alexander. I at 
present stand in the position of a gentleman at large. [A 
laugh.] 

Ke-examined : I have had the good sense to quit the turf 
altogether. 

Mr. Humfrey : What occupation do you follow now ? 

Witness : A married man [much laughter]. My brother 
has not betted since he has been ordained as a clergyman. The 
bets were made for him while he was at college. 



144 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Mr. James then addressed the court on behalf of the pri- 
soner, in an eloquent speech, and said that the offence charged 
occurred two years ago, and that the subsequent conduct of 
the prosecutor showed that he did not believe the prisoner to 
have had a guilty knowledge of the forgery. Counsel then 
commented upon the betting transactions of Mr. Alleyne, and 
said that this was a dispute between betting men, which ought 
rather to hav& been settled at Tattersall's -than in a court of 
justice. This prosecution was instituted in order to prevent 
the prisoner from giving evidence in Kennedy's case. 

The learned judge then summed up, and said that if the 
charge of forgery was true, the jury had nothing to do with 
the motives of the prosecutor in preferring it. 

The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict of 
guilty. Sentence was deferred." — Observer, JVov. 3d, 1851. 

I can afford room for two more cases only, wliicli still 
more strikingly illustrate 'Hhe guilt and misery" that 
arise from this fashionable and popular English practice 
and pastime. 

" SUICIDES. 

An inquest was held by Mr. W. Payne, at the Barley Mow, 
Upper Thames street, on the body of William Mimmack, aged 
59, who committed suicide on the 6th iiist. About t o'clock 
in the evening of Friday week, deceased went into a coffee- 
house in Upper Thames street, and having engaged a bed for 
the night, about a quarter past seven he was, at his request, 
shown to his room, and nothing more was heard of him until 
ten o'clock on Saturday morning, when he was found hanging 
by a rope round his neck tied to the post of the bedstead. He 
was lying flat on the ground, from which his head was not sus- 
pended more than from seven to eight inches. A doctor was 
sent for, who, on his arrival, declared that life was extinct, 
and had been so for some time. During his absence from 
home his family received from him a letter posted in Knight 
Ryder street, conveying his intention to commit suicide. A 
book was found in his pocket in which were made the follow- 
ing entries : — ' Thames street, six o'clock — I now fly in the 
face of my friend and Maker. Horse-racing has killed me. 
It would be a good thing if it was made felony to bet on any 
of them.' Another was dated March 5, 1852. — 'Another 
miserable day, and yours has been the same. God's will be 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 145 

done. I am a poor wretch. This punishment I deserve.' The 
last was a scrap of paper, on which was written the following : 
' My poor brothers appear so happy, and I am so miserable 
that I must join them. The little money is left in my bureau 
at home, if I have any. The Lord have mercy on me. It is 
a rash act. Everything is against me — even the elements." 
The jury returned a verdict of ' Temporary insanity.' — Obs., 
March 15//i, 1852. 

Betting and Suicide. — On Tuesday, Mr. Langham, deputy 
coroner for Westminster, held an inquest at St. James's Work- 
house, Poland street, Oxford street, on the body of Geo. Bear, 
aged 42. Deceased was in the service of Lady Charlotte 
Dundas, and that lady having been out of town for some time, 
he had been residing at the George the Fourth public house, 
Leicester street. Regent street, with the landlord of which he 
had been long acquainted. Mr. Pope, the landlord, said de- 
ceased was never cheerful or communicative, but a few days 
ago he told him that if one of two horses he mentioned won 
the Derby, he should be 'all right;' and on Wednesday last 
he went to see the race, in company with a gentleman's servant 
named John Davis, who could not be produced at the inquest. 
On Saturday last deceased went as usual to the Earl of Zet- 
land's to know if there was any communication for him from 
his mistress, and he then appeared in his usual spirits, and went 
to bed about his usual time that night in a double-bedded room. 
About seven next morning he was seen in bed alive and well ; 
but about eleven he was found lying in the bed quite cold, with 
a large incision of an oblique direction across the bend of the 
left arm, dividing the arteries and tendons. From the absence 
of witnesses who could give material evidence, the inquiry was 
adjourned." — Observer, June 1th, 1852. 

With these cases, I take leave of the subject, and am, 
sir Very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, &c., 
To Majoe Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. 



13 - K 



1-1-6 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



LETTER XIV. 



WANT OF EDUCATION x\MONG THE MASSES IN THIS COUNTRY 

— THE STATE OF CRIME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM NUMBER 

OF OFFENCES COMMITTED BY WOMEN AND CHILDREN 

NUMBERS OF WOMEN OF THE TOWN, AND ILLEGITIMATE 
CHILDREN. 

London, August 1st, 1853. 

Dear Major : — I next call your attention to tlie general 
prevalence of ignorance, or rather the absence of educa- 
tion, among the masses in this land of boasted civilization. 

In that useful book known as '' Chambers's Information 
for the People," published by William and Robert Cham- 
bers, of Edinburgh, I find it stated that " Probably from 
a tenth to an eighth of the people of England and Wales 
are now receiving school instruction " — [ Vol. L, p. 459, 
Fhil. Ed.] At page 460, I also find it said that '' Edu- 
cation is actively conducted in America, and it is calcu- 
lated that about a sixth of the population are at school," 
But there are some tests of the absence of education 
among this people which are truly surprising. It is said 
that the Registrar General's returns for England and 
Wales, for the three years 1839, 1840, and 1841, show 
that, out of 367,894 couples who were married during 
those years, 122,457 men and 181,378 women signed the 
register with their marks. That is to say, not very far 
. from one-half (very nearly one-half the women, and a few 
more than one-third of the men) were unable to write 
their names. This seems to be confirmed by what I find 
in '^ Chambers's Information for the People," to the eftect 
that '^ Of the 121,083 couples married during the year 
ending June 30th, 1839, there were 40,587 men, and 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 147 

68,959 women, who, boitig unable to write their names, 
were obliged to sign by marks. The proportion of men 
unable to write was thus thirty-three per cent.; of women, 
forty-nine per cent.; medium, forty-one. The trustwor- 
thiness of this test was confirmed by the registration of 
the ensuing year; when, amongst the 124,339 couples, 
41,812 men and 62,523 women were found to sign with 
marks ; and the proportion in various districts was also 
nearly the same." In the '^ British Almanac" for the pre- 
sent year, I find that the total number of marriages re- 
gistered in England and Wales for the year 1850 were 
152,783; that of this number 47,570 were men, and 
70,601 were women (more than one-third); who signed 
the register with their marks. 

Referring to the rural population, the '' British Alma- 
nac " for 1851 says that '' Generation after generation has 
vegetated on the soil, from time immemorial, without re- 
ceiving, for the greater part, any school or book educa- 
tion — just like the produce of the fields, which grew up, 
and was cut down in its season, as they were. They have 
been left as much alone as though the country had still 
been in a savage state. Civilization has, in fact, only 
been extended to them by reflection from those above 
them, whose numbers in proportion to their own are one 
to four or five.'' You will scarcely be surprised at this 
when you shall have read some of the instances and ex- 
amples of this imperfect civilization which I have in re- 
serve for you. And now I ask, is it any wonder that 
crime ventures to stalk abroad in the dark night of igno- 
rance which envelopes this people ? 

For no blessing conferred upon our country does a kind 
and beneficent Providence more deserve our gratitude 
than for our exemption from crime, as compared with 
other lands, and especially with this United Kingdom. I 
will state a few facts for your information on this head : 

In the " British Almanac " for the present year, I find 
the following table. A similar statement is contained in 
the ^^ Companion to the Year Book of General Informa- 
tion." 



148 



THE t^LAVEHOLDEH ABEOAD ; OR, 



"ABSTRACTS OF TARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTS. 

Numhe7' of Fe^^sons Commuted for Trial or Bailed in the 

Year 1851. 



ENGLAND AND WALES. 




o 


Convictions. 


O 

a! 

c 
□ 

10 

1 

9 

1 
1 

22 
10 
11 

.-> 1 


-3 
a 

CS 

a 

761 

490 

4551 
155 

309 
6359 

245 

192 

344 
15 

36 

75 

907 


Execut'n of Ca- 
pital Sentences. 


J3 
■^ 

40 
28 

2 

TO 
1 

1 


a 

.2 

11 . 

tH till lli, 


■^ u . 
;:: C rx. 

111 

S S 3 
^ rt p-l 


j 

3} 

D 
o 
<u 
X 

10 

1 
1 


•2 
a <c 

.2o 

li 

H 

p. 2 

H > 

30 
25 

1 

56 


■2 

I'i 
p p. 

P.-r 

si 

2 
1 

3 

. .. 


§ 

1 
1 


2,218 

• 2,060 

21,906 
S05 

808 

663 


144 

714 

17S2 
94 

67 

S5 


1,263 
827 

15,564 

64 

647 
318 


Oflences against pioperty with vio- ) 
lonco ) 


Ditto without violeuos 


Malicious otlVnoos against Property- 
Forgery and otTonees against the) 
Currency J 


Other olTouces 


Total * 
SCOTLAND. 
Offences asrainst the Person 


27,960 


2So6 


18,673 


9S1 

1,023 
54 

12o 

2o-J 


So 

177 

270 
2 

15 

b 


690 

296 

1,298 
36 

74 

173 


Otfences against Property with vio- I 
louce \ 


Ditto without violence 


Malicious offences against Property.. 
Forgery and offences against the) 

Currency J 

Other offences 


Total t 


4.001 


502 


2.567 


* Of the total commitments, 2-J,o01 were males, and 5o0i> females. 

t Of the total commitments for Scotland, "J^iVJ were males, and 1100 females: of 
wjiole, oOe> were not more than sixteen years of age. and forty-nine were above six 
S-SO ctnild neither read nor write, UoOS could read and write imperfectly, and seven 
seven had had a superior education. Under the headof iusane, etc., are "included sov 


the 
tv: 
ty- 
en- 



Offences in Ireland. — In the year 1851, there were 25,369 
persons committed for trial, of whom 14,415 were convicted 
and sentenced — nine to death, 1985 to transportation for yari- 
ous periods, lO.SlS to imprisonment for various periods, and 
1543 to other pnnishmeuts." 

The sum total of otiences here is hirge ; hut that which 
is more especially remarkable is the great number of atro- 
cious offences,* and the number of offences committed by 

* See Appendix, A, § 11, for a comparison -with the state of crime in 
Georgia. Also, §§20, 21, 22, 23, 29. Also, App., C, §§ 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 
8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 25, as to crime among the slaves. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 149 

women and children. Of the crimes committed in Eng- 
land and Wales, twenty-four in a hundred, or about one 
in four, are committed by women ; and of those com- 
mitted in Scotland, thirty-eight m a hundred, or about 
one in every two and two-thirds, are committed by 
women.* And in Scotland, in every 100 offenders there 
were 12f^j^Q, or just one in eight, who were under sixteen 
years of age. But in connection with this last feature of 
the table, I shall have more to say to you hereafter. 

The extent to which illicit relations between the sexes 
prevails among certain classes of this people, is also shown 
by figures and statistics, which they themselves report. 
In the " British Almanac " for this year, I find it stated 
that, in the year 1850, there were born, in England and 
Wales, 593,422 children, 302,834 of whom were males, 
and 290,588 were females ; and that of these, 40,307, or 
nearly seven per cent., were illegitimate — that is to say, 
about one in every fourteen. All accounts agree that the 
number of women of the town to be found in the cities is 
enormous; and one writer says, '^ In the principal streets 
[of London], I verily believe, during the evening, if you 
stand still, you will be passed by one every minute." (Cole- 
mans Letters, p. 11.) This author is an American, I 
believe, but one by no means prejudiced against the Bri- 
tish people, as his book shows. 

I remain, dear Major, 

Respectfully, 

Y'r ob't serv't and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 

* See App., A, §^ 12, 24, 29, for the proportion of crimes committed 
by women in Georgia. Also, App., B, g| 4, 7, 13; App., C, g^ 2, 8, 
9, 21. 



13 



150 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



LETTER XV. 

SOCIAL PROFLIGACY CONTINUED — -COURT OF EXCHEQUER 

TEES VS. AVIS — EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF PROFLIGACY 
AND DEPRAVED TASTE — MAHOMET ABRAHAM (A BLACK 

beggar) AND ELIZA ', A HORRIBLE PIECE OF LONDON 

ROMANCE PROFLIGACY IN LONDON. 

London, August 15th, 1853. 

Dear Major : — I propose now to submit for your con- 
sideration some facts which have been brought to my 
attention, showing the profligate relations of the sexes 
among a portion of the population of this country, and 
the degraded moral character of the lower classes. 

Not long since, I paid a visit to the Court of Exche- 
quer, as it is called, and I will tell you what I heard there. 
But first, let me suggest that they have many courts here, 
held at an immense expense, of which you, as an Ameri- 
can, and accustomed to cheap justice, can form no con- 
ception. This much, however, must be admitted — that 
the article is comparatively good here, when paid for; 
except, perhaps, where men are tried for violence to 
women. In other cases, it may be said that there is 
something like accuracy in the administration of justice 
by the courts ; and this cannot always be said of our 
courts. But it must be confessed that the expense of 
demanding one's rights in a court of justice here, or of 
defending them, is frequently ruinous ; and that this ope- 
rates in many instances, to prevent a redress of wrongs. 
One of these days, I may give you the benefit of some 
information I have obtained here on this subject. 

In the mean time, I will introduce you to the Court of 
Exchequer. It was my first visit, though I had previously 
been to the Court of Chancery, and the King's Bench. I 
found the judge and the lawyers in wigs and gowns, and 
getting on with much more of routine and less of bustle 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 151 

tlian with us. The judge was courteous and patient, but 
ruled the proceedings with decision and firmness. The 
case which was tried whilst I was present was brought by 
a person for the recovery of certain articles of household 
furniture, plate, and jewelry, which it was alleged his wife 
had carried away from him, when deserting his bed and 
board, into the possession of the defendant. The wife 
had died, and the suit was brought after her death. 
During the progress of the evidence, it transpired that 
the plaintifl' had married the woman whilst he had an- 
other wife living ; the woman (last married) had eloped 
from him with a Mr. Taylor, whom she deserted, in his 
turn, for Mr. Avis, the defendant ; that this Mr. Avis had 
four daughters, the oldest of whom was twenty-one years 
old, and the youngest fifteen; and that the father, his 
paramour, and one of these daughters, together occupied 
the same bed. You wiU agree with me, I am sure, that 
such a story would shock the lowest of our slaves ; and 
that such a rare bird as this Avis is entirely unknown in 
our country. 

Think of such a state of facts as here set forth, taking 
place in London in the year of Christ, 1853 ! Not among the 
very lowest dregs of the population, either, but among per- 
sons having some means, and possessed of furniture, plate, 
&c. In order that you may see that I have accurately 
reported the facts, I send you an extract from the Observer 
newspaper, where you will see that the case seems to have 
been trea.ted by the Court in a matter-of-fact, every-day 
sort of way, and not as anything unusually shocking : 

" SOCIAL PROFLIGACY. 

Ill the Exchequer Court, on Wednesday, the case of Tees v. 
Avis, was tried before Mr. Baron Piatt. Mr. Hawkins, in 
stating this case to the jury, said the plaintiff was the foreman 
of a tailor carrying on business in Little Earl street, Soho, and 
the defendant was an auctioneer, upholsterer, and undertaker, 
in Higli street, St. Giles's, The action was brought to recover 
a quantity of household furniture, plate, jewelry, &c. In the 
year 1836 the plaintiff became acquainted with a Miss Diana 
Wales, a person of considerable beauty, and married her at St. 
Martin's church. They lived together for two years, when Mrs. 



152 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

Tees attracted the attention of a Mr. Taylor, a tailor, in Bond 
street. He induced her to leave her home, and she lived for 
some time under his protection, during which he made her a 
great many valuable presents. She, however, proved unfaith- 
ful to Mr. Taylor, The defendant, having been called to make 
some articles of upholstery, was struck with the attractions of 
the then '' Mrs. Taylor," and he induced her to leave the tai- 
lor's and go to the undertaker's shop, where she lived with the 
defendant until August last, when she died. Upon her death, 
Mr. Tees, the plaintiff, demanded the furniture, plate, jewelry, 
and effects belonging to his late wife, which she had taken to 
the defendant's house, of the value altogether of about £150. 
All these things she had when the undertaker took her, and he 
refused to give up possession of a single article to the plaintiff, 
in consequence of which the present action had been brought. 
The learned counsel then proceeded to call witnesses to prove 
the foregoing facts. A woman called Harris, who had been 
an intimate friend of Mrs. Tees, and was present at her mar- 
riage, said that she believed Mr. Tees had another wife then 
living who had left him. Avis, the defendant, was present at 
the wedding. He had four daughters — the eldest 21, and the 
youngest 15 years of age, living with him when he took Mrs. 
Tees into his house. This witness spoke of several articles of 
furniture and other things which she had seen at the defen- 
dant's belonging to Mrs. Tees, and said that the defendant 
had enlarged one of Mrs. Tees's bedsteads to enable her, his 
daughter, and himself to occupy it together. Other witnesses 
were called to complete the plaintiff's case. Mr. M. Chambers 
addressed the jury on behalf of the defendant, contending that 
the plaintiff did not come into court with clean hands, seeing 
that in the first instance he had married a second wife during 
the lifetime of the first, about whom he appeared to have taken 
no interest from the day of their separation. Then, again, the 
expenses of the funeral of this poor woman had been paid by 
the defendant, and he considered, therefore, that he had a rea- 
sonable claim, upon the few effects which she had left- behind. 
Mr. Baron Piatt told the jury that the morality of the case was 
not a question for their consideration ; for, whilst it appeared 
that the plaintiff had married a second wife during the lifetime 
of the first, the defendant had thought proper to take one of 
those wives into his keeping. The law of the land was, that 
when a wife died, the husband was entitled to any property 
she might have, unless it was otherwise settled. The jury found 
for the plaintiff, with eighty-five pounds damages." — OhserveVf 
January 21th, 1853. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 153 

When I returned to my rooms, I related to Buck what 
I had heard and witnessed of the trial at Court. We were 
now in the frequent habit of interchanging remarks upon 
the novelties with which we met ; and for my amusement 
as well as interest, I encouraged him to talk with me 
about such things. When I had given him the story of 
the undertaker and his broad bed — 

^' Marster," said he, " who is undertaker? What do he 
undertake?" 

'^ He makes coffins and attends funerals and burials," 
said I. 

''As God is my Judge, Marster," said Buck, '' I had 
rather live forever, than be buried by sich a villian of an 
undertaker." 

I witnessed a still more extraordinary instance of pro- 
fligacy, if that be possible, some time during the last sum- 
mer. Being near the Bank of England, in Gornhill, I 
ordered the coach in which I was riding with my servant, 
to stop near the Royal Exchange, where I got out, told 
Buck to do the same, and to wait for me there a short 
time, as I desired to look into the Bank for a few minutes. 
I left, and proceeded to the Bank ; where I had been a 
very short time when Buck made his appearance, panting 
and steaming with excitement. 

''Mass Pies— Mass Pies — " (he frequently thus, 
when much excited, called me as he had been accus- 
tomed to do in our childhood), " Ma^ Pies — come 
quick. I have got the oncommonest sight to show you, 
that you have seen sence you come to this country;" and 
he rapidly hurried me out, saying as we went, " We must 
make haste, and git to the Mansion House, Marster, jest 
over thar," pointing in the direction of that building. 

" That is the residence of the Lord Mayor," said I. 

"Adzackly, Marster, and he is going to have the outen- 
est set before him that ever I seed in my born days." 

He then informed me that immediately after I had left 
him, he saw approaching, a blind black man and a white 
girl in the custody of the police. 

"They had been tuk up for something nuther," Buck 
said, "but he didn't know what adzackly." 

As they were being taken towards the Mansion House, 



154 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR; 

he said lie had approached the party and learned some- 
thing of the circumstances, and where they were being 
carried, and then he scampered off for me, that I might 
have a chance of " seeing the show." 

" He was a raal greasy ole nigger, Marster, and the 
young white oman said she was his wife, and would foller 
him to the world's eend, said she, and would live and die 
with him, said she," spluttered Buck, as we fairly ran 
across Oornhill in the direction of the Mansion House. 
''And he was blind at that, Marster, and ugly as a har- 
ricane." 

"We reached the place a very little time after the arri- 
val of the prisoners ; and there, sure enough, I witnessed 
one of the most remarkable cases of depravity and degra- 
dation that I had ever seen. You shall have the facts 
from the police report, as it appeared in a London paper 
of the time; for I feel that you might suspect me of 
'' romancing" with you, if I left you to trust my statement 
alone. Here is a statement from the Observer of June 
7th, 1852: 

" POLICE INTELLIGENCE — Saturday, June 5. 

Mansion House. — Extraordinary Instance of Profligacy 
and Depraved Taste. — Mahomet Abraham, a jet black Wind 
beggarman, who is usually led through the streets by a brown 

dog, and Eliza , aged 23, the daughter of a gentleman 

who resides in London, were brought before the Lord Mayor 
by Henry Major, an officer of the Mendicity Society. The 
male prisoner was a peculiarly revolting object, his head being 
covered with long matted hair, and the covering upon his limbs 
being tattered and filthy in an extreme degree. The female 
was a small-sized, pretty-faced girl, presenting a remarkable 
contrast to the wretched creature who accompanied and was 
cherished by her. 

The Mendicity officer said : At twenty minutes past eleven 
o'clock, I saw the two prisoners together in Bishopsgate street. 
They had come from Halifax street, where they live together, 
and the girl fastened a petition to the man's breast, and placed 
him and his dog near the Sir Paul Pindar public house, in an 
attitude of supplication. As soon as she had deposited him 
to her satisfaction against the wall, she retired from him. I 
soon saw him receive a penny, and I apprehended them both. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 155 

The following is a copy of the petition, which was stitched 
round with black tape : — 

" The humble petition of Mahomet Abraham, a native of 
Calcutta, East Indies. He was brought to this country in the 
barque Diana, Captain Brown ; was kept ashore in the Infir- 
mary, Liverpool, for fever and inflammation in the eyes, where 
he was deprived of his precious sight. Being a stranger, far, 
far away from home, he is forced to trust to the kind, benevo- 
lent, and humane, who feel for the misfortunes of others. 

Gold is much, 
The loss of health is more ; 

The loss of light is such 
God only can restore. 
The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." 

The Lord Mayor: Is it possible that those two persons 
have been living together ? 

The Mendicity Officer : I have traced them to their very bed, 
and have been particularly informed of their habits. 

Captain Wood, of the Mendicity Society : The case is cer- 
tainly the most extraordinary I have met with in all my expe- 
rience, and. discloses not only a singular instance of perverted 
taste, but other peculiarities calculated to excite surprise, and 
illustrate the begging system. Perhaps the most explicit way 
of informing your lordship of the circumstances of the case is 
by reading a letter which I received from the young woman's 
father, who is present in this justice room : — 

' To the Secretary Mendicity Society, Bed Lion Square. 

Dear Sir : — I beg to submit the following distressing case to 
your sympathies, and to solicit from you the advice and assist- 
ance which I am led to understand is kindly afforded by your 
society in extraordinary cases out of the pale of parental au- 
thority. By birth and education a gentleman, I married in 
the year 1829 a lady in the same sphere of society, by whom I 
had issue two daughters, the eldest of whom (the unfortunate 
subject of this application) now 23 years of age, was from the 
age of three months brought up and educated in the first style 
by her maternal grandfather and grandmother. At their de- 
cease, about seven or eight years since, she became an unwill- 
ing inmate of her parent's dweUing, from which she contrived 
to get away with a married man, and was not heard of (liaving 
eluded the efforts of the police to trace her for many months) 
until the receipt of a letter in the Times newspaper, from Mr 



156 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

D'Arcy, our solicitor, at Newton Abbot, in Devonshire, in 
which paper a detailed and humane account of the distressing 
condition of a young lady then lying at St. Luke's workhouse, 
appeared under the assumed name of Elizabeth Allen. This 
account, as regarded my daughter, abounded with the most 
atrocious falsehoods, as detailed by herself to the Board of 
Guardians of St. Luke's. My wife (having a cousin of the 
name, to whom the solicitor suggested it might apply) went to 
St. Luke's, and found our daughter to be the person whose 
case had been detailed in the Times, and on her being brought 
before them and her mother, was there and then convicted of 
deliberate falsehood and fraud, and handed over to her mother. 
Exertions were then successfully made to get her cured of a 
complication of loathsome disorders at Bartholomew's Hospital, 
from whence, after being brought to a state of convalescence, 
and robbing some of the nurses of small sums of money, she 
escaped, and again was lost sight of for many months, when a 
gentleman, a friend of the family, saw and gave her into cus- 
tody of the police, who restored her once more to her afflicted 
parents. Her conduct from this period was infamous in the 
extreme, and, on her coming of age, she threw off all restraint, 
and having a small house property in Devonshire, subject to 
her parents' interest, but wliich was waved in her favor, she 
left us, nor did we know of her whereabouts, until about ten 
months since, I met her in the streets of Whitechapel, in the 
last stage of destitution, lilth, and rags, singing ballads. My 
humanity, once again led me to speak with her and to remon- 
strate, the result of which was that we took her home, cleansed, 
clotlied, and cared for her. This lasted but a short time, and 
her recurrence to her former habits again precluded all know- 
ledge respecting her, until, a few days since, we received a letter 
from our solicitor, saying he had heard from our daughter, as 
the wife of a Mr. Abraham, desiring the sale of her propert}^, 
and requesting him to take the necessary steps — one of these 
and the preliminary step, being our signatures and consent. 

My first impulse was to visit the locality specified in the 
solicitor's letter, ' t Little Halifax street, Whitechapel,' and 
there, in one miserable room, cohabiting with a black, blind 
beggar, who perambulates the street with a brown dog, this 
wretched girl is to be found. The parties who live in the same 
house say that she has been cohabiting with this monstrous 
loathsome being for two months, and that they live most luxu- 
riously. Her mother, who has had an interview with her, states 
that she boasts of this man's bringing her home from the west 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 1 o7 

end frequently 1 5s. per day, and on an average *7s. or 8s. per 
diem. She stated herself to have been married to him seven 
months since at Whitechapel church, which, on careful inquiry, 
I lind to be false, having examined the church books and seen 
the officials on the subject. These latter circumstances induce 
me to think that the humanity and exertions of your society 
may be made available for the suppression of so much vice, and 
the salvation of this unfortunate child.' 

The Lord Mayor : Certainly this is the most horrible piece 
of London romance I ever heard of, and it would be quite in- 
credible if I had not here before me all the parties concerned. 
Is it possible, young woman, that you can have any respect or 
affection for the miserable creature at your side ? 

The Female Prisoner : Yes, I have both respect and affec- 
tion for him. 1 have no idea of leaving him. We can do very 
well together (and she laid hold of the tatterdemalion's greasy 
black paw). 

The Mendicity Officer : The man has been begging about 
for several years, and I have no doubt is well able to keep a 
woman in great luxury. I am convinced that the girl has been 
attracted by the excellent living with which he indulges her. 
They have been in the habit of getting the best, and she does 
not deny it. 

The Female Prisoner : Well, I can't go home, and I won't 
go home. 

The black said he had been dog-led through the streets of 
London for eight years, that there could be no mistake about 
his blindness, and if any one knew how a blind man was to sup- 
port himself, except upon the kindness of those who were not 
blind, he would be much obliged to be informed in what way. 

The Lord iMayor then communicated privately with the 
father of the girl, and both prisoners were remanded." 

''Tell you what 'tis, Marster," said Buck, when we 
were again in the street, " hit do seem to me like that 
ole nigger been usen some conjure trick on that gal. 
Why, Marster, there ain't a yaller gal 'mong all them 
lazy, good-for-nothing Goings free niggers that live thar 
in the outskearts of Pineville what 'ud take up with sich 
a scarcrow as that ole nigger. Sal Goings herself, low 
down as she is, wouldn't do it, much more any of our 
Blave people, Marster. Poor gal ! poor gal ! I must think 
thar's some conjuration 'bout it, sir. Howbeever, sir, I 
14 



158 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

don't know arter all, why we slionld be so conflumuxed 
about it, Marster. These English people seem tereble 
fond of niggers, any how. The quality (what they call 
the rastocracy, sir) take on about niggers monstrously, 
and set a heap by 'um. The poor people here love to 
foller arter the quality, and hits no wonder that they fall 
in love with niggers some." 

There is no telling how long Buck would have conti- 
nued in this strain of moralizing on the shocking scene 
we had witnessed, if I had not abruptly checked him, and 
told him I desired to be left to my thoughts. 

The case just referred to. Major, may be deemed very 
horrible by the Lord Mayor, as it undoubtedly is, but it 
is by means a solitary instance on the part of English 
women, of a taste for black men. On the contrary, you 
will find from the following, that hybrids are increasing 
in London, and I suppose you will join Buck in agreeing 
that all things considered, it is not very wonderful. 

" William Tortinie, a man of color, was charged with refu- 
sing to support his illegitimate child. Margaret Mackey said 
she was engaged by M. Robin, the great conjurer, in Tich- 
borne street, to do work, and there met with the defendant, 
who was also employed to assist in the tricks and conjurations 
at the theatre. The defendant contrived to become intimate 
with her, and the result was the little copper-colored /ac simile 
of the father. The defendant, notwithstanding the prima facie 
proof of paternity presented by the child, stoutly declared he 
was not the father. The complainant had no other corrobo- 
rative proof than that which was afforded by the unmistake- 
able resemblance between child and putative father. Mr. Har- 
wick was hardly inclined to think that this kind of proof was 
the corrobative evidence contemplated by law. It was just 
possible that defendant was not the father, as there were other 
black men in London. He should therefore remand the case, 
to see if the complainant could bring some kind of corrobora- 
tion of her declaration. The case was remanded." — Observer, 
Feb. lith, 1853. 

I will return to the subject of social profligacy hereaf- 
ter. And in the meantime, I am, dear Major, 

Youi friend and cousin, 
P. Jones. 

To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 159 



LETTER XVI. 

SOCIAL PROFLIGACY IN LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER, AND 
THEIR VICINITY — ANNUAL REPORT OP THE CHAPLAIN OP 
KIRKDALE JAIL. 

« 

London, September 1st, 1853. 

Deae Major : — Such profligacy as I have been de- 
scribing is not confined to London. To show this, I will 
send you accounts taken from other parts of the country. 
Here is one from Liverpool, exhibiting to some extent the 
state of social morals in that city, in Manchester, and 
their vicinity. Kirkdale Jail is in the neighborhood of 
Liverpool, and is used for the surrounding country to a 
considerable extent. 

"ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN OF KIRKDALE JAIL. 

I have the honor of presenting my thirteenth annual report 
to the magistrates. 

The period which it embraces has been marked by few oc- 
currences that call for any peculiar notice. 

The total number of prisoners admitted within the building, 
from the 20th of October, 1851, to the 20th of October, 1852, 
has been 2141, showing an increase of 355 over that of the 
preceding year. Of this number, 312 are found amongst the 
summary convictions, 43 alone being the excess of the other 
two classes together. This increase will not, however, be in- 
considerably reduced by subtracting the number of the Wigaa 
borough prisoners, who have, for the last few months, been 
brought to this jail, instead of, as formerly, to Preston. 

I am happy to state that, although the calendars for the 
year contain the names of nine prisoners charged with wilful 
murder, besides two with attempts to commit that dreadful 
crime, and five for infanticide, we have again been spared the 
painful scene of an execution. Sentence of death was, indeed, 
passed at the last assizes upon two sisters, for attempting to 
poison the illegitimate daughter of one of them, with oxalic 



160 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

acid ; but the sentence was subsequently commuted to trans- 
portation for life. 

On turning to the assize calendars, we find that the follow- 
ing are the material differences in the committals for the two 

years : — • 

1851. 1852. Decrease. 

Charged with manslaughter 45 33 12 

" " burglary and house-breaking 83 56 27 

<« " base coin transactions 12 5 7 

<•« it forgery 20 9 11 

'♦ " rape 15 9 6 

On the other hand, we have the committals for street and 
highway robbery increased from 52 (in 1851) to 100 (in 1852). 
The great majority of these cases have occurred in the borough 
of Manchester, and have been in very many instances accom- 
panied by severe violence to the throat. The judges have 
thought it right to express themselves in very strong terms 
upon the prevalence of this crime in that town ; and, de- 
termined to do all in their power to repress it, have in almost 
every case of conviction sentenced the offender to ten or fifteen 
years' transportation. 

I do not know that I have any novelty to notice in the 
motives or causes which have supplied us with somewhat more 
than our usual aggregate number of offenders during the past 
year. There certainly have been comparatively few cases in 
which want of employment has converted the honest man into 
a felon. I must once more reiterate what I have, year after 
year, felt myself obliged to remark, that drunkenness is, in 
nine cases out of ten, the parent of the crime which you are 
called upon to punish, and that I despair of seeing any great 
reduction in the number of criminals in this country, until this 
bligliting curse of our laboring population, in all its various 
classes, has been eradicated. I wish I could see any improve- 
ment in this respect, but I grieve to state that the experience 
of the past year has been only too like that of its predecessors ; 
and my journal abounds, as usual, with such notices as the fol- 
lowing, which I extract almost at random : — 

Dec. 29. I had an interview with four boys, all under 20 
years of age, for robbing a man in Dryden street, Liverpool, 
on Christmas night. All of them had been drinking spirits 
at some neighboring vaults. 

Feb. 3. A man named Patrick M'D , for the assizes, 

charged with the wilful murder of a man with a stone, after a 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 161 

drunken quarrel. They had both, according to his statement, 
been up drinking all the night. He names three vaults at 
which he had been himself drinking, in and near Deansgate, 
after twelve o'clock that morning. The man was killed between 
seven and eight, A. M. 

March 30. Forty-nine prisoners from Manchester came be- 
fore me this morning, for the ensuing assizes, almost all for 
street robberies. I have again to remark that from the state- 
ments of these prisoners Manchester appears to be in a fearful 
state during the whole night : any quantity of spirituous 
liquors is procurable, they say, at all hours. It seems that 
several of what are called night houses are allowed to be open 
throughout the night, some for the convenience of the market 
people, others for the cab-drivers. At these places drinking 
goes on throughout the whole night, to a lamentable extent, 
according to the statements of numbers of prisoners to myself. 

April 12. A man named James Dowd, for the assizes, 
charged with a murder in a drunken brawl, at Liverpool 
The party had been drinking until one o^clock in a whisky 
cellar. 

November 20. Visited two men in dark cells ; one of them 

named P is one of the most refractory prisoners we have 

ever had in the jail. He has been many times before, and 
was once whipped. He bears a very bad character outside, as 
well as many others of his family. His father, I am told, was 
a very drunken man, and at the time of coming of age, of the 
present owner of the Speke estate, he was seen by my inform- 
ant lying on a form, with upturned mouth, calling out to a 
man who stood over him with a can of liquor — ' Avw teem it 
into me as you are a Christian !^ Another son of this man, 
in company with some others, found a cask of rum in the river, 
on one occasion, and they drank the whole of it amongst them ; 
after which he died himself, and the rest very nearly shared the 
same fate. 

Nov. 4. John A , for the assizes, a respectable farmer 

at Kirkby, under the Earl of Sefton, charged with the man- 
slaughter of another of the Earl's tenant farmers, by throwing 
him over a palling — both being in a state of intoxication. 
Both 60 years of age, and with large families. 

The following extract shows the mischievous effects which 
such books as Jack Sheppard are calculated to produce : — 

Dec. 13. Conversed with two Stockport boys, 15 years of 
age, each convicted and sentenced to six calendar months, at 
the present assizes, for stopping a lady on the Manchester road, 
14* L 



162 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

and demanding her money or her life. The story they both 
tell is in substance this : — 'We have for some time past been 
reading the lives of Dick Tarpin, Jack Sheppard, and Claude 
Duval, placed in our hands by the man under whom one of us 
works in the factory. We both of us at length determined to 
try if we could not ourselves perform some of their exploits, 
and, for this purpose, got a pistol and loaded it with powder, 
paper, and a small stone ; and on the night of Saturday last, 
sallied forth in the direction of Manchester, to watch for a 
favorable opportunity. A lady met us, and we rushed up to 
her and demanded her money. She declared she had none. 
We then presented the pistol and said : — 'If you do not give 
us something, we will blow out your brains.' At this instant 
a young man came up, and we were prevented from making 
any further attempt, and apprehended ' 

We have had nine deaths in the jail during the year — one 
tho.t of an Irish youth, which is thus alluded to in my journal 
of March 17. Before he died, he begged that he might not 
be buried in the shirt which he had brought into the jail, he- 
cause it was a stolen one. He also expressed a wish that his 
mother, who lived in the county Longford, might be informed 
of his having died in jail ; and be at the same time told that 
absolute want could alone have driven him to commit the bur- 
glary of which he had been convicted, and for which he had 
been sentenced to four calendar months' imprisonment. Poor 
fellow I he was throughout his illness as patient as a lamb, and 
most grateful for any act or word of kindness from any one. 
He said before he died, that he hoped his brother would take 
warning by his fate, and never be induced, by any motive what- 
ever, to commit a crime. 

Another death was that of a man named Metcalfe, who cut 
his throat fatally with a razor in his separate cell. He had 
been brooding over the loss of his little property, which had 
been sold to pay the expenses of his trial at the last assizes. 

There has been no alteration in any respect in the jail 
during the past year. Everything continues to go on with the 
same admirable regularity ; and no stranger ever leaves the 
building without speaking in the highest terms of the excel- 
lent discipline, the uniform cleanliness, and the perfect order 
which prevails throughout. The same occupations are still 
followed that I remarked upon last year ; the principal of 
which, cloth and mat weaving, and shoe-binding, keep several 
hands constantly, and, I hope, profitably employed. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 163 

It is very painful to me to have to add to my tal3les so long 
a list of recommitments during the past year. I must allow, 
it is very discouraging to find that our labors are so often all 
but fruitless. All, however, is not dark ; for I have before me 
now several letters from those to whom tlieir imprisonment has 
proved a blessing, and who express in the warmest terms the 
gratitude they feel for the instruction they have here received, 
and the good they have derived from this visitation of an all- 
gracious Providence. 

KiCHARD ApPLETON. 

November, 1852." 

{^Liverpool Mercury, Decp.mher Sd, 1852. 

I liave more to say on this subject, but must put it into 
another letter ; and only add now, that I am, dear sir, 

Your friend and cousin, 
P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, Pineville, Geo., 

U. S. of America. 



LETTEE XVII. 

SOCIAL PROFLIGACY — ABANDONMENT OP AN INFANT BY ITS 

MOTHER HORRIBLE DEPRAVITY SOCIAL PROFLIGACY IN 

SCOTLAND. 

London, September IGth, 1853. 

Dear Major : — On the 17th or 18th of November last, 
I attended the Middlesex Sessions, and witnessed another 
case of awful depravity — one which excited the most pro- 
found emotions among the bystanders. I send you a 
report of the same, published a few days thereafter. 

"DISTRESSING CASE. 

Elizabeth Bromwich, twenty-one years of age, was indicted 
for unlawfully, wickedly, and cruelly deserting and aban- 
doning her infant child, aged seven weeks, and exposing 



164 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR; 

it in the open air, whereby its life was endangered. Robert 
Lester, inspector of the C division of police, stated that 
the prisoner, at a little past two on the morning of the 
25th of last month, was brought by police constable 199 C to 
the Yine street police station, charged by Alfred Stroud with 
child-murder some months back. The prisoner said she wished 
to speak the truth. She had nothing to hide, and threw her- 
self on their mercy. She then stated that she was delivered 
of a female child on the 14th of April last, at a house in King 
street. Regent street. It was ill from its birth ; and on the 
27th of May, it appeared to be dying, and she took it to Mr. 
Harding, a surgeon in Silver street, who had attended her in 
her confinement ; and he told her that it would not live over 
the day. She was advised by Ellen Davis to put the child 
near some gentleman's house ; and that then, if it was found, 
and it did not live, it would have decent burial. She went to 
Hampsted and put the child near the Well-walk, and left it 
there. It was alive then. She also said that she had since 
seen bills in a window about a child having been found, and 
asked Stroud to let her inquire about it ; but he told her not 
to go, as she might get punished. On this story being told, 
the prisoner was detained, and a constable was then sent to 
Hampsted, and brought back the child's clothes, which she 
said were those the child had on when she left it. He (wit- 
ness) told her that the child was alive, and she exclaimed, 
'Oh, thanks ! Shall I have it again?' She said* that Davis 
and herself had bought two pennyworth of laudanum at two 
shops, and that she had received a certificate from Mr. Hard- 
ing that the child died on the 2tth, of infectious disease. She 
said that she got this certificate to show to Stroud, with whom 
she had been living, and who was in the hospital at the time. 
Davis was originally taken into custody, but the magistrate 
admitted her subsequently as a witness. In cross-examination, 
the witness said that Stroud was the man who brought her to 
the station, charging her with murdering her child some 
months ago. He (witness) knew that she lived with him. He 
had seen her in a fearful state, covered with bruises ; and when 
she was brought to the station she was covered with blood, 
her eyes bloodshot, and both sides of her face black and blue 
from bruises. She explained that she had been living with 
Stroud for some months, and that he had been living on 
the wages of her guilt. Latterly her earnings were small, 
and she was obliged to pawn some of his clothes to enable 
them to live ; and he became jealous, and charged her with 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 165 

spending the money slie got on other men, and beat her in this 
way. He came out of the hospital about two months after 
the birth of her child, and they lived together since and 
before. She walked the streets to support him for many 
months. Police constable 199 G stated that, on the morning 
in question, he was called in, and Stroud gave the prisoner in 
charge for the murder of her child. The prisoner went into 
hysterics, and Stroud told him that she had given the child two 
pennyworth of laudanum, and took and left it at Hampstead 
heath. When she recovered, she said, ' Oh ! Alfred, how can 
you say that ?' 

Ellen Davis deposed to having gone with the prisoner to 
Mr. Harding's to get a certificate of the child's death. The 
prisoner told her that it was dead, and she believed that she 
told Mr. Harding what was said to her. She went with the 
prisoner and her child to Hampstead, where she said she had 
another child with her mother. This was about the middle of 
the day, and when there the prisoner went away with her child, 
and was absent about twenty minutes, and returned without 
the child, saying that she had left it at her mother's. At this 
time she (witness) was supporting her and her baby, for the 
prisoner was very badly off. Mr. Harding, when they went 
there with the baby, told the prisoner that the child could not 
live many hours. Mr. Harding stated that he was called in to 
the prisoner in her confinement, and had attended her since. 
On the 2Ttlr of May the prisoner and Davis brought the child 
to him. He told them it appeared to be dying, and the pri- 
soner said she was going to take it to her mother's. The pri- 
soner always seemed to him very attentive to the child, but she 
was in a state of great misery and want. Charles Satterth- 
waite stated that he was playing cricket on Hampstead-heath, 
at about a quarter past 6, on the afternoon of the day in ques- 
tion. The ball went through a hedge, and he followed and 
picked it up. He saw a parcel, apparently lying under a bush, 
and found that it was a child. This was about 300 yards from 
any house, and about 100 yards from any public road. Mr. 
Aldrich, the master of the workhouse, said the child was brought 
there about 7 o'clock. It was placed in a warm bath, and had 
a wetnurse provided, and he thought it was now likely to 
live. 

Mr. Payne, in his address to the jury, commented on the brutal 
conduct throughout of the man Stroud, and noticed the credit 
that was due to the parties by whose instrumentality the child 



166 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

had been rescued from death. His client never had, nor did 
she now deny that she deserted her child, but under all the 
circumstances she did not think they would come to the con- 
clusion that she did so maliciously, and with intent to endanger 
its life. He wished that Stroud, who was the cause of all the 
misery and degradation that this poor woman had endured, 
could have been placed at the bar — he who had accused her 
because she did not bring him sufficient wages for support, 
and who dragged her in the middle of the night, bruised and 
beaten, to a police station, and made a charge against her 
that might have perilled her life. The learned counsel then 
drew the attention of the jury to the different points in the 
prisoner's conduct which would justify them in acquitting 
her. The Assistant Judge having summed up, the foreman 
of the jury said that they considered that the prisoner was 
guilty of placing the child where it was found, but without 
any malicious intent. Mr. Payne said that was tantamount to 
a verdict of not guilty, and the jury accordingly returned a 
verdict of acquittal. " — Weekly Dispatch, Nov. '^Ist, 1852. 

The verdict of the jury was waited for with great in- 
terest, and the audience were much gratified when the 
prisoner was acquitted. In this excitement my servant, 
who had accompanied me to the Court, largely shared, 
and I was forced to interfere and prevent his breaking 
out into an exuberance of joy which would have drawn 
down the displeasure of the Court. As it was, he relieved 
himself as much as he eould by soundly abusing the man 
Stroud. 

" He is meaner, sir," said he, '' than any free nigger in 
Georgia, and I bleeved 'fore I left home that they was 
'bout the meanest people on yearth. But whoever heard 
of a nigger livin on his 'oman's sin, and beatin her at 
same time, and clappin climax by perwailin on her to 
'stroy her child, and then swarin agin her for doing it, 
and tellin lies at that ? Is thar no chance to hang him, 
Marster ?" 

In the same paper from which I have given you the 
above extracts. Major, I found the following article: 

''shocking depravity. 

Two persons, residing in Pheasant court, Gray's Inn lane, 
were charged with having more lodgers in one room than are 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 167 

allowed by law. It appeared from the evidence of Police-ser- 
jeant No. 4 of the E division, that he had visited the rooms 
rented by the defendants, who are Irishmen, and in one apart- 
ment he found sixteen adult males and females, nearly in a 
state of nakedness and swarming with vermin, lying or squat- 
ing indiscriminately on the bare boards. There were two 
children likewise in the same wretched place. In the room of 
the other party, the same witness proved a like filthy scene in 
language (necessary in the case) which occasioned a sickening 
sensation. Mr. Tyrwhitt said the testimony was certainly of 
a most revolting description, and unhappily too true ; and he 
told the defendants if the nuisances were not at once ended, he 
would commit them to the House of Correction for a length- 
ened period. They had slipped out of a country which evi- 
dently had tolerated such iniquitous goings on ; but, while he 
would administer the law mercifully, every means that he could 
adopt should be taken to put down the vile practices described. 
— Weekly Dispatch, Nov. 21st, 1852. 

The following extracts furnisb us a leaf from the chap- 
ter of social profligacy in Scotland; and, together with 
other statistics which have been furnished by me, serve 
to throw light upon the state of morals and of civilization 
in that part of the United Kingdom : 



" OFFENCES BY PUBLICANS. 

On Tuesday, at the termination of the ordinary business at 
the Central Police Court, a number of cases of offence by 
publicans were brought up under Home Drummond's Act, 
among which were the following : — 

Mrs. Russell, Old Wynd, for having her premises open and 
entertaining company between the hours of two and four o'clock, 
on the morning of Sunday, the 22d of May. She denied the 
charge in strong terms. 

The officer deponed that, after three o'clock, he got admis- 
sion by a back door, and found five women — some of them 
prostitutes — and eight or nine men in the house, and Mrs. 
Russell serving them with liquor at the bar. This was cor- 
roborated by a second officer, who characterized it as a very 
bad house, that kept a watch for the police. 

The magistrate found the breach of the terms of certificate 



168 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

clearly proven, and the case was aggravated by the flat denial 
of the charge. However, he was inclined to view it leniently, 
solely on account of the time that had been allowed to tran- 
spire since the discovery had taken place. 

Mr. Burnet explained that the delay had been occasioned 
by the difficulty in getting the offender's name and designation 
correctly. 

Anthony Reynolds, Bridgegate, was accused of selling 
spirituous liquors without a certificate, and with having his 
premises open on the morning of Sunday the 19th of June. 

An ofiicer deponed that, at nine o'clock, on the morning in 
question, he obtained admission into Reynolds' house — in plain 
clothes — where he counted no less than twenty-seven men and 
women at the counter being served with liquor. Reynolds 
himself came in and exclaimed — 'Danger approaches, Annie, 
douce the glim' (put out the light), and he sprang on the 
counter, screwed out the gas, and cried — ' Bring me the rasp- 
berry,' The woman, who acted as saleswoman at the counter, 
then got flustered, and spilled some whisky from a pewter 
stoup, which he found to be whisky from dipping his finger 
into it and tasting it. A hustling was then got up in which 
he was forcibly ejected. His object in going in was to see 
what had attracted a crowd that lingered about the close. 

A second policeman corroborated this statement, with the 
addition that Reynolds was standing outside looking out while 
the selling was going on. 

Reynolds pleaded that he sold only raspberry cordial ; but 
Bailie Gilmour said this was too sour an argument, and fined 
him in £3 10s., or thirty days' imprisonment. 

A number of other cases were departed from in consequence 
of some irregularity in the terms of the charges." 



" CRIMINAL JURY TRIALS. 

On Friday a court was held in the Court-house. Sheriff 
Smith occupied the bench. The prosecution was conducted 
by J. M'Donald, Esq., P. F., and Mr. Cross, writer, Air- 
drie, watched over the cases on behalf of the prisoners. 
The first produced for trial was an Edward Morrison, a 
young man of twenty-one or twenty-two years, charged with 
theft from lockfast places. He plead guilty, and was sent to 
prison for four months. The next arraigned was an Elizabeth 
Inglis, a young girl from Glasgow. She was charged with utter- 
ing base coin in the town of Airdrie, on the 1st and 2d of June. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 169 

She plead guilty to the charge of uttering, but not to the charge 
of knowing it to be base. The court not being satislied with 
this plea, a jury w^as empannelled, and the case went to trial. 
On the evidence it came out that the girl had come to Airdrie 
on the May Fair day with a barrow and nuts, or some such 
thing. While here with her father she passed the money for 
which she was charged with uttering. The father is evidently 
a person of the worst class in society. In her declaration too, 
she stated that he fraternized with one notorious coiner. The' 
jury found her guilty, but, on account of her youth, recom- 
mended her to the leniency of the court. She was sentenced 
to four months' imprisonment. Through her agent, Mr. Cross, 
who made for her an able defence, we inquired if she could 
read or write. She answered that she could do neither. It 
was so with the one that was tried before her. Surely if 
society expects its members to perform their relative duties, it 
ought, at least, to see that they are trained to know what its 
laws are ; unless it believes that all know these intuitively. 
From the frankness with which she w'ent about the uttering of 
the bad money, we fear the girl learned only on her apprehen- 
sion that she had been guilty of a serious offence. Instead of 
being let off at the end of four months, she should be sent to 
school, or trained within the prison walls, if need be. The 
heavy sobs that she gave on hearing her sentence, showed that 
though steeped in a worse than Hottentot's ignorance, she was 
not lost to a sense of shame from going into prison. 

District Court. — During the week, Denis Helly and John 
Connorton, two boys, were sent to Hamilton, to receive, the 
former twenty, and the latter fifteen stripes, for breaking trees 
in a plantation on Woodhall estate. It strikes us that in this 
instance the justices acted more with the feeling of proprietors, 
than that of fathers. Daniel Fisher, a rogue and vagabond, 
was sent to prison for sixty days, for taking a bite out of a 
loaf He should have got the wheel to turn to cure him of his 
laziness. Bernard Cunningham, for assault, got thirty days.'' 
— Glasgoio Examiner, July SOth, 1853. 

I will resume the subject in my next, and am, mean- 
time, dear Major, 

Your friend, &c., 
To Maj. Joseph Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 

15 



170 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 



LETTEE XVIII. 

SOCIAL PROFLIGACY THE LATE LORD PORTARLINGTON AND 

MRS. DAWSON — MORMONISM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THE 

AGAPEMONE, OR ABODE OF LOVE. 

London, September 29th, 1853. 

Deae Majoe: — -It would seem from the following, 
that social immorality is not confined to the lower classes 
of the people in this country. It is the report of an in- 
vestigation had before one of the Aldermen of London. I 
leave the case to speak for itself : — 

"THE LATE LORD PORTARLINGTON AND MRS. DAWSON CHARGE 

OF PERJURY. 

At the Guildhall poMce office, on Tuesday, Mrs. Dawson, 
alias Phoebe Blakeney, residing near Maida-hill, appeared for 
re-examination before Sir Peter Laurie, on a charge of having 
committed wilful perjury under the following singular circum- 
stances. The charge was that in the year 1833 the prisoner 
swore, in the Prerogative Court, to documents purporting to 
show that Mrs. Elam, widow, died intestate in September, 1833, 
and that the prisoner was her only daughter and next of kin, 
and thereby she obtained about £5000, there being a Miss 
Georgina Elam, a daughter of Mrs. Elam, in existence. The 
registry of Mrs. Elam's burial at Kensall Green stated Mrs. 
Elam's age to be 48, whereas the prisoner had nearly reached 
that age when Mrs. Elam died, and therefore the prisoner could 
not have been Mrs. Elam's daughter. Miss Georgina Elam 
(the prosecutrix) deposed that she first discovered that her 
name was Elam, and not Dawson, on a legacy being left to 
her in 1845 by Lord Portarlington, in the name of Elam. A 
clerk in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury produced an 
administration bond dated Oct. 12, 1833, and signed ' Phoebe 
Blakeney,' and also the administration act book, stating that 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 171 

on Oct. 15, 1833, administration of the effects of Eliza Elam, 
late of Carzon street, May Fair, widow, deceased, was granted 
to Phoebe Blakeney, spinster, ' daughter and only child of the 
deceased.' The property was sworn to under £5000, and re- 
sworn in 1835 at under £4000. Miss Elam proved the priso- 
ner's signature to the bond. Dr. Curteiss, surrogate, also 
proved the administration by Phoebe Blakeney, and the oaths 
taken on the occasion. Certificates were put in of the burials 
of Mr. and Mrs. Elam, and also of the baptism of Georgina 
Elam, who was born Jan. 26, 1828. Mr. Ballantine, for the 
prisoner, said he was instructed to admit that the administra- 
tion had been taken, and the oaths sworn by his client, and that 
he could prove his client to be, as she had sworn, the only 
natural and lawful daughter and next of kin of Mrs. Elam, de- 
ceased. He should produce a certificate of marriage between 
Robert Blakeney and Eliza Wood (afterwards Mrs. Elam) in 
1798, and the prisoner was her child by that marriage, and 
thus the prosecutor, Georgina Elam, was not the daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Elam, for at the time of her birth Mrs. Elam had 
been long separated from her husband, and was living as mis- 
tress to Lord Portarlington, Mrs. Elam being then 54 and his 
lordship 62 years of age. She then palmed the girl off on 
Lord Portarlington as his child by her, and, under this impres- 
sion. Lord Portarlington left the girl a legacy. He would 
prove that neither Mr. Elam nor Lord Portarlington was the 
girl's father, but that she was purchased from a peasant by 
Mrs. Elam, to be passed off on Lord Portarlington as his. He 
would produce the person who purchased the child, and Mrs. 
Elam's own letters admitting that the child was not hers, but 
merely passed off as such on Lord Portarlington. 

Sir Peter Laurie asked was there any such person as Mr. 
Dawson, or why was the prisoner called by that name ? 

Mr. Ballantine : My client took Lord Portarlington's family 
name of Dawson, because she lived with him as his mistress. 

Mr. Huddlestone : Do you mean that Lord Portarlington 
lived with both mother and daughter ? 

Mr. Ballantine : Shocking as it may appear. Lord Portar- 
lington lived first with the mother, then with the daughter, and 
afterwards with the mother again. 

Sir P. Laurie : Does the present Lord Portarlington know 
of this extraordinary case ? I hope that out of regard to his 
uncle's character, he will send some solicitor to watch it on his 
account. 



172 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Mr. Ballantine said that whatever annoyance it might cause 
to the family, the vindication of his client required the proof 
to be given that the prosecutrix was not Mr, Elam's daughter. 

Mr. Palmer, the prisoner's solicitor, said that he was sure 
the case was put forward by parties whom he well knew, and 
that the prosecutrix had no knowledge of this attempt to extort 
money. 

The case was then remanded. 

On Saturday, the further hearing was renewed. Sir Peter 
Laurie intimated that on the last examination he threw out a 
hint that as the late Lord Portarlington was mixed up in this 
affair in a very peculiar way, it would be advisable for the pre- 
sent lord, if he had any respect for the memory of his uncle, to 
instruct some respectable attorney to watch the case, and, for 
the honor of the family, protect the reputation of his lordship. 
He (Sir Peter) therefore wished to know if any person was 
present on Lord Portarlington's behalf? No person respond- 
ing to this inquiry, the case was proceeded with, and Miss 
Georgina Elam was called, and cross-examined at considerable 
length, with a view to elicit circumstances injurious to her 
character, and that might tend to weaken her evidence. The 
object, however, entirely failed. 

Mrs. Mary Ann Robinson was next examined, and stated 
that she kept a young ladies' school at Ealing, and, in 1833, 
Mrs. Dawson having placed her own daughters with her, in- 
troduced Mrs. Elam, who brought Miss Elam, then a child five 
years old. Mrs. Dawson said Mrs. Elam was her mother ; but 
witness very much doubted it. Miss Elam was under her care 
for six months in 1833, and Mrs. Elam took ' her child,' as she 
called her, away, and paid the half-year's bill. Subsequently 
witness heard Mrs. Elam speaking of Miss Elam in Mrs. Daw- 
son's presence as */ier darling child, lier own dear child.'' 
About one month after the midsummer holidays. Lord Port- 
arlington, Col. Damer, and Mrs. Dawson called and informed 
witness of Mrs. Elam's death. Miss Elam shortly after re- 
turned for a few weeks, and called Mrs. Dawson ' Mamma,' 
and Mrs. Dawson directed that the child should be called 
* Georgina Dawson,' which name she went by ever since. Mrs. 
Dawson was equally kind to Miss Elam as to her own daugh- 
ters. At Christmas the children were taken home, but were 
brought back on the same evening by Lord Portarlington, as 
Mrs. Dawson was then in her confinement with her youngest 
daughter. Mrs. Dawson had told witness she was within a 
15* 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 173 

year or two of her age, which was not 65, and she believed 
Mrs. Elam was not more than a year or two older than herself. 

Sir Peter Laurie said it had been alleged that Lord Port- 
arlington lived with mother and daughter, and that the child 
was purchased by the former, and palmed off as his lordship's, 
but no evidence had yet been offered with regard to that cir- 
cumstance, 

Mr. Ballantine said he had a witness present to prove that. 

Mr. Huddlestone said he had not yet completed his case, 
and for that purpose he was about to apply for a crownal sub- 
poena to ensure the attendance of Colonel Close, who was a 
witness to the marriage of Lieut, and Mrs. Elam, and positively 
declined to appear in the matter unless compelled. 

Sir Peter Laurie expressed a determination to hear all the 
evidence he could arrive at on this occasion, whether it was for 
the prosecution or defence. 

Mrs. Eliza Simpson, called for the defence, said she married 
Mrs. Elam's nephew, who was brought up by the former, with 
Mrs. Dawson. In 182Y, Mrs. Elam Avas living in Mrs. Daw- 
son's house in Park street, Grosvenor square, and they were 
both introduced to witness and her husband as mother and 
daughter. She had heard Mrs. Elam call Mrs. Dawson ' her 
beautiful, her darling child." At that time she thought Mrs. 
Elam to be about fifty-five years of age, and Mrs. Dawson not 
more than twenty-five. She had seen Mrs. Elam undressed 
several times, and could swear she was not in the family way 
then ; indeed, she believed such to have been impossible. Mrs. 
Dawson and Mrs. Elam were both most beautiful women, and 
the former lived with Lord Portarlington, while the latter only 
intrigued with him. She believed she first saw Mrs. Elam in 
Curzon street — but (recollecting herself ) she thought it was in 
Half Moon street, and was in 1832. Mrs. Elam told witness 
that she purchased the child to impose upon a nobleman as his 
child. She afterwards said it was Lord Portarlington. Mrs. 
Dawson knew nothing of the child until Mrs. Elam's death, as 
it was always sent out of the way, and locked' in a bed-room 
when she called. The intriguing between Lord Portarlington 
and Mrs. Elam was carried on in Mrs. Dawson's house at the 
time the former was living with her (Mrs. Dawson). Mrs. 
Elam looked much younger than she really was, and endea- 
vored to make herself appear still younger. She did not 
actually know that Mrs. Elam intrigued with Lord Portarling- 
ton, but she suspected it. She never mentioned the purchase 
15* 



174 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

of the ohild to Lord Portarling'ton, or her particular frieiui, 
Mrs. Dawson, but allowed the imposition to go on until after 
the death of ^Irs, Elnni. when she advised Mrs. Dawson to 
advertise and oiler a sum of money for the parents of the child. 
Mrs. Dawson refused, as it would deprive the child of many 
comforts it then enjoyed. ACrs. Robinson here stated that a 
woman, refusing her name and address, had called ujion her 
. since the last examination, and tried to intimidate her, and 
prevent her appearing* against ]Mrs. DaTs'Son. 

31 r. rainier, of the tinn of Palmer and Nettleship, the soli- 
citors to the late Lord Portarlington, said that during a con- 
versation with him (the Hon. Lionel Dawson), his lordship's 
younger brother remarked, in allusion to the intercourse be- 
tween Lord Portarlington and Mrs. Elam, that * his brother 
was fool enough to believe he had had a child by her, and that 
he had the clearest proofs of it.' He had also been informed 
by a ]\lr. Francis Harvey, who knew Mrs. Dawson from a 
ciiild, that Miss Elam was palmed oft' upon his lordship as his, 
when, in fact, it had been bought of a peasant for a particular 
purpose. 

]Mr. Huddlestone objected to the evidence being taken in 
such a loose manner, and wished it to be understood by the 
alderman, that in allowing Mr.. Palmer to state anything he 
liked, without reg-ard to the law of evidence, was altogether 
illegal. 

Sir Peter Laurie said he would not be bound by the rules 
of law in any case ; he would allow every witness to tell his 
tale in his own peculiar way, and take the responsibility upon 
himself, for he was convinced that more was proved by such a 
course than by a cross-examination, which only bothered the 
witness. 

Mr. Huddlestone said it did not always follow that proof 
was evidence. 

Sir Peter Laurie said it did not signify to him ; he would 
pursue the course that he thought would most readily elicit 
the truth. 

Mr. Palmer continued, and stated he could only account for 
the age of Mrs. Eh\m being entered on the burial certilicate as 
forty-eight years, by the fact that it was some extraordinary 
whim of Lord Portarlington, who had the sole direction of 
Mrs. Elam's burial. At his lordship's request, he afterwards 
acted for Mrs. Dawson, in taking out letters of administration 
to Mrs. Elam's property, sworn at under £5000, and Mr. Francis 



BFLLY BCC'K.S S^TSIT TO KSCLXSl). ] 7-5 

Ilarvoy bccamf3 co-security witli liirn for lliat amount in the 
administration bond, lie havint^ previously satisfied liimself 
that Mrs. Dawson was the daughter of Mrs. Elam. 

Sir I*eter Laurie said the case had taken a very different 
turn to what he expected, Ijiit it was his intention to remand 
it, to afford Mr. Huddlestone an opportunity to complete the 
case for the [)rosecution, 

Mrs. Dawson was then allowed to de|)art without renewing 
her recognizances, on Mr. Palmer pledging himself that she 
should be forthcoming at the next examination." — Observer, 
Nod. 'litk, 1851. 

After what wo have now seen of morals and habits in 
this country, we can understand how it is that its people 
take to Mormonism with such facility. It was only a 
short time since I saw an article in an English newspaper 
embodying a fling at our country because of this impos- 
ture existing within our territories, and declaring that 
nowhere else but in a state of society like ours could such 
a system have its origin, or be tolerated. I strongly felt 
the injustice of this remark, knowing, as I did, that Mor- 
monism, on account of its degrading vices, had always 
met with the most decided hostility from the people of our 
country, had been driven by them from place to place, 
until it had been finally forced beyond the confines of civi- 
lization, and into the fastnesses and deserts of the Ptocky 
Mountains ; and would probably long since have shrunk 
into insignificance, but for the aid and comfort which it 
has received from foreign nations, and especially from 
England, Scotland, and Wales. During all the time to 
which I have referred, a steady supply of converts coming 
from among the people of this kingdom, has recruited the 
ranks of this sect, and afforded a body of emigrants who 
brought with them money and means, and thus assisted 
to sustain and build up this '' Zion " of imposture. You 
have evidence of this in the following extract : 

"THE MORMONS. 

A small but continuous stream of Mormon emigrants has 
since 1840 continuously flocked from the north of England, 
from Wales, and Scotland, to join the Latter Day Saints estab- 



176 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAP ; OR, 

lishod at Kirtlaiui, in Ohio, in Jackson oonnty, in the state of 
ISrissouri. also on the river ;^[issou^. at Nanvoo,'on the ^lis- 
sissippi ; and finally on the Great Salt Ijake. in the Rocky 
Mountains, near the eastern boundary of California. 

Orignnally a gross and clumsy imposition, and which notwith- 
standing," its success, must be characterized as a bunu'ling- swin- 
dle introduced by a person of bad character, the Monnonito 
movement has nevertheless become an important popular fea- 
ture in the ITnited States ; and, after sntVering- many reverses, 
has achieved hiii'h temporal and industrial prosperity. Most 
people believed the Mormons to be a handful of miserable 
fanatics, \^ho wandered into the far west beyond the bounds 
of civilization, on which they are a blot. 

In ISol there were but five Mormons in the world, including' 
Joseph Smith, the founder of the faith. Pour of these were 
his father and brothers. In twenty years they increased to 
upwards of 3(K\000 persons, of which a large number are now 
settled as an independent state, with a regular charter, organ- 
ized local government, and not only the sovereignty, but the 
fee simple of a fertile tract as large as England, situated on 
the best trail from Eastern America to California and the 
Pacitic. The state is called Deseret or Utah, and will proba- 
bly soon be added to the group of the American Union. Salt 
Liike t^ity. Avhich sprung up like magic in the wilderness, is its 
capital, a large and tlourisliing town. They have agencies and 
missions in every capital in Europe, and in every large town 
of the United Kingdom. Their object is to * gather the saints' 
to Deseret. Since 1S4S. upward of 14,000 persons have in- 
clined to the doctrines of ^stormou. and have gone forth to join 
the settlement. The Mormon emigration, iu 1840, passing 
through Liverpool, amounted to 2500 persons, all of the better 
class of emigrants ; and it is calculated that 30.000 Latter-day 
Saints then remained behind. In June, ISoO, there were in 
England and Scotland. 21,863 Mormonites, of whom London 
contributed 25'29 : Manchester. 27 SV: Liverpool, 1018; Glas- 
gow, 1816; Shetheld, 1020; Edinburgh, 1331; Birmingham, 
1900 ; and ^Yales, South Wales principally, 4342. And the 
Mormonite census was taken iu last January, giving in the 
entire number in the British Isles as o0.t4T * Saints.' During 
the last fourteen years more than 50.000 had been baptized in 
England, of which nearly IT, 000 had emigrated from her 
shores 'to Zion.' We have said that ^Mormon emigration is 
of the better class ; but there are poor Mormons as well ; and 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. j 77 

for bolioof of tlioHO, and in onlor lliat Ihoy may, us wf;ll as tlioir 
jiion; f>r<>s[)(;r()iis l)r(;lJ)rcM, l)0 * gathered to Zion,' Ihcro is now 
ainassed in fjiverpool more than tiiree and a half tons of Caii- 
fonilan <jold holoti^in^^ to the sect, and doKtinod for the pur- 
poKes of (Mnigralion. Thus, then, in twenty years, the sect of 
five i>oor men has become a compacted body of 300,000 indi- 
vidiiiils, l>ound together by religious, social, and industrial ties, 
lirm in their faith, as well as in its pr<jpagation, and professing 
a creed which, whatever may be its monstrosities, seems at all 
events to have in it nothing adverse to tlie wordly prosperity 
of its members." — OljaerDer, Au/juat \HUi,, 1851. 

If any fact HorvoH more than those to nhow the profli- 
gacy of the maBHos, from whom is derived this perennial 
stream of polygamists, it is the existence among them of 
such a delectable institution as that which is referred to 
in the following extract, which is taken from the Observer 
newspaper of May 10th, 1852, and copied from the Bristol 
Gazette : 

" THE AGAPEMONE, NEAR BRIDGWATER. 

Some curious stories are current respecting this place. It 
is said that Mr. Prince, the founder, on a recent occasion drove 
up to the Castle Jnn, at Taunton, in the carriage and four 
which liclonged to the late Queen Adelaide, and which he has 
purchased for his own private use. A servant at the door of 
the inn warned off some idlers standing in the way, with the 
words, ' Take care, here's Mr. I*rince comirjg.' lie overheard 
the exf)ression ; and, on alighting from the carriage, said to 
the servant, in a solemn tone, ' Mr. Prince once — Jesus Christ 
now.' After uttering this lilasphemy, he entered the inn, con- 
sumed a cigar and a bottle of wine, and returned to the Abode 
of Love. Among other strange regulations observed in the 
institution is the election of 'Mrs. Prince,' or 'The Bride.' 
This is a distinction which every week falls to the lot of one 
out of fifteen women, who, with their husljands, are memljers 
of the seet. A large stage is erected, on which arc placed a 
number of scats according with the number of candidates for 
the espousal. This stage revolves round a chair, in which Mr. 
Pi'ince seals himself. At a given signal the husbands of the 
women enter, and each, stationing himself at the back of his 
)>etter half, begins to force the stage round. This is continued 
until it has attained, a pretty good speed, when, at a sign from 

M 



ITS THE SLAVEHOLDER AH ROAD; OR, 

Mr. Prince, the hu^sbaiuis ivliro, ami tlie stiio-o is left to itself; 
when it stops, the woman opposite to Mr. Prince becomes the 
' l>rido'' for a. week, at the end of which time the ceremony is 
repeated. On one occasion, Mi\ Prince happened to catch a 
' Bride' as she was beina: kissed by her hnsband. As a punish- 
ment for this nnfaithfnlness, she was divorced from lier hea- 
venly consort and put to menial hibor, and the hnsband was 
sentenced to wheel a barrow full of stones up and down the 
yard for three days." — i^r/Wo/ Gazette. 

It is time that I had brouglit this letter to a conclusion. 
I tliereforo at once subscribe myself, 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 
To Maj. Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTER 



JUVENILE DErRAVITY IN THIS COUNTRY — MURDER BY A BOY 
OF THIRTEEN OF ANOTHER ELEVEN YEARS AND A HALF 
OLD — CHARGE OF SWINDLING AGAINST A LITTLE GIFxL, 

THIRTEEN YEARS OF AGE SINGULAR DELINQUENCY OF A 

BOY — CHARGE OF STEALING AGAINST A BOY AGED TEN, AN 
OLD OFFENDER — A YOUTHFUL AND ARISTOCRATIC HIGHWAY- 
MAN A CANDIDATE FOR TRANSPORTATION, AGED FOUR- 
TEEN — MURDER BY A BOY LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD — 
A YOUTH LEFT FOR EXECUTION. 

London, October 1st, 1853. 

Deae Majoe : — The moral character of a people dis- 
tinctly declares itself in their children. Oll^pring that 
are the object of tender solicitude on the part of refined 
or educated Christian parents, from tlieir earliest years 
will exhibit more or less of that loveliness which appeared 
in those of whom it was sweetly spoken, *' Of such is the 
kingdom of heaven." But children who are born and 
bred in infamy and ignorance, very soon grow to be but 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 179 

imps of the social hell in which they have their habita- 
tion. Wide-spread juvenile depravity, therefore, may be 
regarded as indicating extensive social profligacy. 

That such juvenile depravity abounds in this kingdom, 
and to an extent which is as surprising as it is painful to 
the citizen of more favored moral regions, cannot be de- 
nied. It is shown by figures about which there is and 
can be no doubt, and it is to be inferred from the many 
extraordinary instances which are met with on every 
hand. 

In the same work alreaady quoted by me, — '^ Cham- 
bers's Encyclopedia," — I find that, in the year 1838, there 
were, in every 100 off'enders, IfVg juvenile delinquents 
under twelve years of age, and in every 100 offenders 
there were Q^Va (nearly ten) between the ages of twelve 
and sixteen, and 29 ^^ between the ages of seventeen and 
twenty-one — more than ten in a hundred of these 
ofi'ences, therefore, having been committed by children 
less than sixteen years old, and more than forty (almost 
one-half) in every hundred having been committed by 
persons less than twenty-one. In the '' British Almanac " 
for 1845, I find that, in the year 1843, there were, in 
every 100 offenders in England and Wales, djlo under 
fifteen, and 22jIjj between fifteen and twenty. From the 
table which I sent you in my letter of August 1st, last, 
and taken from the " British Almanac " of "the present 
year, you will find that, in every 100 off'enders in Scot- 
land in the year 1851, there were 12i%, or just one in 
eight, less than sixteen years old. 

Now if, with all this, you will compare the report of 
the principal keeper of the Georgia Penitentiary, a copy 
of which you have kindly sent me (and for which I thank 
you), you will see that in our State there are, in every 100 
offenders, only 19 j% who are between the ages of fifteen 
and twenty-one; 13jVu of whom are between eighteen 
and twenty-one, SjVd only under eighteen, and none 
under fifteen. What a striking contrast is thus pre- 
sented ! In England and Wales, one in about every ten 
of all offenders is less than sixteen years old, in Scotland 
one in eight is less than sixteen, in Georgia none less than 
fifteen.* 

* See Appendix, A, g§ 16, 27, 28, 29. Also, App., B, ^§ 5, 8. 



180 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Let US come down somewhat more to particulars. By 
the '' British Ahnanac," it appears that there were in 
Parkhurst prison, on the first day of January, 1851, 516 
boys. During the year, 270 others were received. Of 
these, three died, one was pardoned, and one removed to 
Millbank prison ; seventy-seven were sent to Van Die- 
man's Land, fifty-nine to Western Australia, sixt}^- three 
to Portland prison, and twenty-four to the Plulks — total, 
228 ; leaving 5b6 on January 1st, 1852. The expendi- 
tures for the year were £10,952, the amount of earnings 
£1441, and the average annual expense of each prisoner 
was £16 8s. 

Here, then, you will perceive, in one prison, — a large 
one, it is true, and probably a general receptacle for such 
offenders, — are nearly 800 juvenile criminals; out of 
whom, in the whole year, one only is found worthy of 
pardon. They are confined at an annual expense of more 
than $50,000. 

If you ask me what sort of crimes are committed by 
these juvenile delinquents, I must answer, not mere vio- 
lations of good order, or, at the worst, petty thefts, as 
you would suppose, from your knowledge of children in 
our part of the world ; but crimes of all grades of enor- 
mity, from murder to simple swindling. You can best 
judge of this by a few examples which I Avill send you. 

The first' is a case wdiicli occurred in the spring of 
1851: 



"MURDER BY A BOY OP THIRTEEN, OF ANOTHER BOY ELEVEN 
YEARS AND A HALF OLD. 

Lynn, Mrrfolk', April 13. — The dreadful tragedy which 
ocoiuTed at Castle Rising;, four miles from Lynii, on Sunday 
last, has been followed by intelligence of another murder on 
the previous day at Outwell, a Tillage ten miles from Lynn, 
and midway between Wisbeach and Downham Market. It 
appears that on Saturday last three boys were in a field near 
the village, where they were employed in 'croAV-scaring,' the 
eldest boy having a gun in his possession, to fire occasionally, 
in order to frighten the birds from the seed-wheat. This boy, 
whilst conversing with his two companions respecting some- 
thing which he had told them on the preceding day, said, 'If 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 181 

he knew lliey mentioned it to any one he would kill them,' 
The youngest boy, frightened at this, replied in a tearful mood, 
'What shall I do, then ? I told my mother last night.' On 
this the eldest boy reared his gun to the ehild's forehead, pulled 
the trigger, and by the explosion, shattered his skull, s{>read- 
ing his brains over the field. The gun, it is said, contained no 
shot, but the wadding passed completely tiirough the child's 
head. Frightened at the act which he had committed, the 
murderer prevailed upon his surviving companion to promise 
secrecy, and to assist him to dispose of the dead body, which 
was done by dragging it to a dry ditch, where it was carefully 
buried. The two boys then returned to the spot where their 
companion had been shot, and gathering up his brains, and the 
shattered fragments of his skull-bone, they threw them into his 
cap. After this they kindled a fire of turf (the field being in 
the furze), upon which they placed the cap, which they watched, 
with its contents, until it was entirely consumed. Upon their 
return home, inquiry arose concerning the murdered child, 
when the companion of the murderer confessed to the par- 
ticulars above narrated, and was with the murderer himself 
taken into custody. 

The body was found as above described." — Observer, April 
19^/?, 1851. 



The next is a case of swindling by the little daughter 
of a retired officer in the British army. You will find it 
an instance of expertness in crime, and indifference to its 
results, truly wonderful, in a girl less than 13 years old. 

"CHARGE OF SWINDLING AGAINST A CHILD. 

Ellen Marian Watson, an interesting looking girl, aged thir- 
teen, daughter of a retired officer in the army, residing with 
her parents at No. 3 James street. Commercial-road, ('amber- 
well, was charged before Mr. Elliott, with obtaining, on false 
pretences, property of considerable value from Miss Anne 
Hatt, fancy stationer and Berlin wool dealer. Anne Hatt, of 
Church street, Camberwell, deposed, that on Friday week, the 
prisoner purchased a shilling's worth of Berlin wool, and on 
the following Monday repeated her visit and selected sixpence 
worth. She then entered into conversation with witness, 
stated that she was on intimate terms with the Rev. Daniel 
Moore, clergyman of the parish, and that she was working 
16 



182 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABKOAD ; OE, 

something as a present for him ; and that her name was John- 
ston, and that she Uved with her parents at the Grove. Daring 
the conversation, she selected three patterns for sofa pillows 
to take to her mamma to choose one. Witness believing her 
to be connected with ^Ir. Moore, allowed her to take the 
articles, but reqnested them to be returned the next day. The 
prisoner said that as her papa did not dine until six o'clock, 
it would be inconvenient to return them uniil the day follow- 
ing. She then left the shop and did not return until Thursday, 
when she came with two of the patterns, and apologized for 
not sending them back on the appointed day. The fact was, 
her mamma had gone on Wednesday to dine with a colonel 
and his lady in Berkeley square, aud the footman was ordered 
to bring them, but had forgotten his orders. She requested 
the wool for the pattern, chosen by her mamma, to be packed 
up, aud said she could not pay for it then, as she had not 
known how much it would come to, but her mamma would pay 
for it all at one time. She then selected a hymn book, and 
said she would like to have a church service. Witness thought 
it strange for her to purchase such things without some one 
being with her, but packed them up, and then sent a servant 
aftei" her to see where she w-ent to, that she i^ witness) might 
call on her parents for some explanation. The servant returned 
and said, ' Oh. miss. I think the young lady has deceived you. 
She entered a small cottage near the vestry hall, and remained 
there.' Witness did not think much of that, she seemed so 
respectable, and supposed she called there through motives of 
charity. On Friday evening the prisoner called again, selected 
a writing desk and two books, which she took with her, saying 
that her mamma wished to see them. On Saturday last she 
brought back a Bible, saying that her mamma did not want it ; 
and she was to select something in its stead. Witness then 
suspected her, but allowed her to select them. Whilst they 
were being tied up, witness dressed herself, and after the 
prisoner quitted the shop, she followed. After walking a little 
way the prisoner tore up something", apparently the invoice, 
and then unfastened the parcel and threw away the paper. 
Finding that she did not go to the Grove, witness stopped her, 
and asked what she was going to do with the property. The 
prisoner was much confused, and said all was right ; that she 
could refer to Mr. Moore, Mr. Lackington, and Mr. Jennei. 
Witness asked where she lived, and wished her to go home. 
She refused to tell, or to go home, and witness took her down 
bv the vestrv hall, when she refused to go further. On this 



BILLY BUCKS VISIT TO ENGLAND. 183 

witriCBH took her to thrj Rev. Mr, Moore's, who said he ha/l no 
knowledge of her. He took her into a private room, and ascer- 
tained wlier*,' her parents lived. Wifjiens then took her ha/.k 
to the Khop, and gave her in eliarge to a eoiiHtahle. 8he had 
been so artless in her behavior that witness had been quite de- 
ceived, and had believed her ntory that she was the daughter 
of Mr. Johnnton, who had resided at the Grove for many years. 
The whole of the property was reeovered. A portion was 
found at her parents' residence, the remainder at Mr, Taylor's, 
where she had left it. — Sergeant James Head, P. said, that 
when he was ealled into Miss Hatt's shop, the prisoner asked, 
was he Mr. liobinson or Sergeant Quinnear? He asked the 
reason of the question, and she replied that her father's house 
in Wells street had been robbed lately, and those officers went 
there. He said, are not you T'aptain Johnston's daughter? 
She answered, * Xo ; I'm Captain Watson's daughter, of 3 
James street, Commercial-road.' — Mr. Elliott asked were her 
parents in court? — The mother, a respectable looking la/Jy, 
stepped forward, seemingly much afflicted. She said that the 
girl had told her tliat the Rev, Mr. Moore had presented the 
things to her. She told the prisoner that she should work a 
jjair of slippers for him in return for so handsome a present. 
She thought that the girl was so infatuated with Mr. Moore, 
that she Twitness; had set her down as an idol of y\r. Moore's 
family. She was but thirteen, and was well educated. When- 
ever she went out, she said she was going with Mr. Moore's 
children. She brought home other things, saying that they 
were presents from the same gentleman, and witness made her 
write a letter of thanks to him for his kindness. She believed 
that was the letter which Miss Hatt saw her tear up. She 
thought it was monomania. — The prisoner, during the exami- 
nation, stood firm as a statue, and apparently indifferent, — 
The motfier said she had been very eccentric for some time 
y)ast, and constantly talked of Mr. Moore, She actually in- 
duced her father and mother to leave an Independent place of 
worship, to enter Mr. Moore's church. In reply to questions 
from ,Mr. Elliott, who said that he had some recollection of 
her at this court, witness said that three months ago she acted 
in a similar way to a neighbor, but witness paid for the things, 
and she was not taken into custody. — Mr. Elliott : Is her father 
as weak as she ? He ought to have corrected her, and pre- 
vented her from committing herself again. — Witness: Tiie 
article she obtained then was only a smelling-bottle, — Mr. 
Elliott : I remember something about her. A medical gen- 



184 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

tlemaii complained that she obtained goods from him on false 
pretences. — Prisoner (laughinp;) : It was not me, sir; mine 
was all settled. — Mr. Elliott : I am not at all satisfied in this 
case. Gross neglect appears on the parents' side, and I shall 
remand the prisoner for further inquiries. — Remanded." — 
Observer, November 11th, 1851. 

- It migM be predicted, perhaps, of this young girl, that 
she would in time come to be a very appropriate bride for 
the thief m petto whom we find figuring in the following 
police report, were it not, that as her villanies were partly 
in the literary line, and as we have it certified that she 
was ^'well educated," she would probably turn her nose 
up at the author of such a letter as you will find below : 



"SINGULAR DELINQUENCY OF A BOY. 

At the Thames police court, on Tuesday, Edward Ludditt, 
a lad about seventeen years old, was charged before Mr. Yard- 
ley with embezzling various sums of money he had received 
for and on account of Mr. Dean, manufacturing druggist, of 
Sidney street. Commercial-road East. On Monday night pri- 
soner saw Sergeant Manners, K 36, in Arbor street, Stepney, 
and said he had been guilty of embezzlement and wished to 
give himself up to justice. He gave the name and address 
of his late master, and the particulars of his offence, which the 
sergeant found was correct, and he was detained on the charge. 
Mr. Dean said the prisoner had been between three and four 
years in his service, and absconded on Saturday fortnight with 
£3 Is., which his mistress gave him to pay a bill, and that 
since then he had discovered other defalcations. But the worst 
of all was, that the prisoner had taken away a reference-book 
of the tradesmen he dealt with, and which would occasion a 
loss to him of £100. He asked the boy what he had done 
with it, and he replied he had burnt it. He was now only 
prepared with one case. The prisoner had been directed to 
purchase a large quantity of phials, and had obtained the 
money for them, which he had not paid, although he had 
actually got a receipt for the money from the person who sold 
the phials. Mr. James Harper said the prisoner called on him 
and asked for the receipt produced, and promised to return 
with the money, which he did not do. He signed the receipt 
at the prisoner's request. Mr. Dean said a few days after he 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 185 

absconded he received the following letter from him, posted at 
Windsor : — 

' Suttoniver 13 Nov. 1851 Sir i dont think that prosecution 
will not be of any avail upon me for i dont care for the Devil 
Himself Money Will Be far preferable to punishment when 1 
say punishment i dont think it so because they you a Belly full 
of wittles and find you in Bed of some sort to lay upon and 
if sposed that it would come to a few years transportation 
what of That i should have the pleasure of seeing a foreignc 
country and another thing i got to tell You when a man is 
sent out the country he is called a Convict But he is a man for 
all that and is as much in Gods eye as the Best man their is 
on the face of the earth so remember this how i am able to 
send you your money what i Hav robbed you of read the lists 
of acts of dishonesty by me to you.' [Here followed a list 
of the various sums the prisoner had embezzled, and the names 
of the parties of whom he had received it, and it concluded 
as follows:] — 'This money I have robbed you of you will 
receive every month for I am thank God able to do it now. 
You will in about a fortnight have £1 10s. ; so no more at 
present from your high born and spirity thief. E. Luddiit. ' 

Mr. Yardley said the letter was the most extraordinary one 
ever penned by a boy, and asked if it was in the prisoner's 
own handwriting ? The prosecutor : I am sure of it, sir. I 
know his handwriting well. The prisoner was remanded for a 
week." — Observer, November 2ith, 1851. 

You may deem tlie boy mentioned above of sufficient 
age to have fallen in with evil companions, and thus have 
acquired such early habits of wickedness. But the follow- 
ing cases will convince you, I think, that this juvenile 
delinquency may be said to be imbibed with the mother's 
laiYk among some English children : 

"juvenile depravity. 

At Lambeth, on Thursday, Edward White, aged ten, was 
charged before Jlr. Norton with stealing a penny biscuit from 
a little girl in the public street. The prisoner's mother, who 
appeared deeply grieved, said that for three years he had been 
a confirmed thief. She and her husband had in vain endea- 
vored to reclaim him, and the boy himself said that his wish 
to thieve was so strong that he could not resist it. When 
punished, and even tied up for weeks together, he said it was 

16* 



of wo ««^» ^»d thj^t he \vx>ji a rt>sr«l5\r Jack She\>h*>\^i ftuil ^onUl 
puri^ue the 5i!*n>e oour^e. lie h^^i btvu t^Vipu>ntl^' in ewiStoily 
^ r ^' - \nu waji lot v^tTv owm^r u^ hU vomh awd hi.^^ xxu^herV i«- 
v^. jiiwi he hv^d heeu hj\>ii\^ht houu> at «*!) hvMu^ tW being 
iVnuui iu iixtVerent pr\n\>l^e^ an^i he had s^uvlen eYerYt)\\ni» he 
«N>x»hi h>y han^vSi u^h>u at hi^ mv>thex*^i!i ph^ee. Mr. Morion ; 
Well v^m^^wer. what have voxi to sav to this? The |>risioi>er 
(eooik) ; I \vi*^h \ oonM leave it off. hwt I can't. Mi\ Norton ; 
Iw^leoJl ; anvl s^o von will Ih> a J aok Shepher^l ? Prii^oner : Yes» 
sir. >lr. ^Jortou : 1 mnj^t trv to enw vow, and shall Wstin by 
seeiw^^ what t^n days' solitary imprisonment and a sound whip- 
|xin^^ will do. The bv^y >ve'^^ ^^^v^vy ignite »i* ..^v^ >, e» ';'Ji '' — (^V 

A xovxMFVL A^i> AiasTOOJRATio hiohwayma:^, 

A mosi als^rmin^ ease of hijihway rc^bWry took jdaee at 
Penrith, in CnmWrtand. on the aJtenioou of the 23d inst. The 
t\^ets wer^ as follows: — Mrs, Williams^ the wife of the Rev. 
Mr. Williams, of Paer^ Yican>4i>:\ was retnrniug^ t\vm Tenrith 
in a srisT with a female servant, where she had been on a visit 
to ss Oassinsku when she was overtaken by a yonih 

v»f ^ :,,,,) ap|H\>r5>mN?, mounted on a valuable pony. He 

i\Hie past her vehicle, and kept in front till he got to a lonely 
p.^rt of the rv^ad. shaded by tives. between Palmain and Paere, 
He then turneii ronnd, met Mrs. AViUiams. and pivsent^ni a 
pistol, at the same time demandinjr her money. Mrs. Williams 
at Srst r^'^fustxi lo srive it to him. when her assailant Siud he 
would eonnx three, and. if she did not deliver her money Wfori^ 
he had finished, he would shoot her. Terrified by his threats 
sh - ' ;\ which oomaiv ■ V sum 

iu ^ - -. ...ving: made an . ; to 

obtain money fn>m the servant, he asked Mrs. Williams her 
mi V id the lady havinsr told him. ' Well.' said 

the ^. seeify on are Mrs, Williams, I'll follow 

you 5 ^nd, mind, if yon h*Ve tohi me a lie. 111 shoot yon tK^m 
W'' ' ' :h yon and y. ^ d if yon sjH^ak to any 

or. way as to wha ^ .. Ill shoot ygn.' Mrs, 

Williams then dtov«j on, the hi^arhwayman riding behind as foot- 
m.. > V ^ .V ' - ' ■ : x\>^>ak to them. Winsr 

&i Jd make goinl his 

threat. After loUowing her tor some distance?, her pursuer 
turned hi> :^nd rovle away. 

Mr. S<* ;o^h constable, on hearing of the eircamstanc<«, 

went in quesi of the highwayman, and fonnd that he bad gone 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLANT). 187 

to the Castle Inn, at four o'clock on the day of the robbery, 
and had his horse fed. He then went out and returned at seven 
in the evening, and requested to stay all night ; but the land- 
lord, Mr. Robertshaw, sent him to the Fish Inn, where he 
stayed all night. Next day he told Mrs. Hodgson, of the Fish 

Inn, that he was son of the Hon. Mr. C , that he was low 

of funds, and if he could get to Keswick and see Mr. Strange 
he would be able to procure a supply. He asked Mrs. Hodg- 
son to lend him 30s., which she did. He then left by express 
train for Kendal, saying he would go by coach to Keswick from 
Kendal. Mr. Scott went to Keswick and waited there, but the 
highwayman did not appear. Subsequently it appeared that a 
young man came by the express train from London to Carlisle 
two days before the robbery, and put up at the Bush Hotel, and 
asked for a hack horse to go to Mr. Howard's, Corby Castle. 
Mr. Birch sent him to 3Ir. Brockbank, of Carlisle, who furnished 
the pony, with which he committed the robbery, and which he 
left at the Fish. As he did not return, Messrs. Birch and Brock- 
bank concluded that they were ' done,' and Birch opened the 
portmanteau left at the Bush. The marks on the linen verified 

his statement that he was the son of the Hon. Mr. C , and 

it appears from subsequent inquiry that he has broken loose 
from the Military School, where he was in training for the 
army. He has been trying his hand at a profession of his own 
choosing. He has not been heard of since he left Penrith." 
— Observer, November Ist, 1852. 

"MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. 

Monday. — Before 3Ir. Serjeant Adams. 

A Candidate for Transportation. — John Morris, fourteen, 
pleaded 'guilty' of having stolen a till, and 2s. 5^d., the pro- 
perty and money of John Hicks. It appeared, from the prison 
returns, that the prisoner had been summarily convicted no less 
than eleven times. The Assistant- Judge made some observa- 
tions on the fact that the prisoner had been convicted five times 
by one magistrate, Mr. Broughton, and four by another, Mr. 
Long, and not once sent for trial. He did not, in the least, 
intend to cast blame on the magistrates, or to say that they 
had not done right, but at the police courts they might not 
have the means they had at the Sessions of identifying the pri- 
soners, and the young thief knew that, by pleading guilty, he 
would be sentenced by the magistrate to three months' impri- 
sonment, and in that way escape the punishment that court 



188 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 

could awa.rd when previous convictions were within its cogni- 
zance. In this case he had not the power to sentence the pri- 
soner to transportation. The prisoner — ' I want to be trans- 
ported.' The Assistant- Judge — ' I dare say you do ; but I am 
sorry to say you cannot be gratified at present.' Prisoner — 
' Oh very well, I shall go on the same game again wlien I'm 
out, till I do get transported, though.' The Assistant- Judge 
—'Well, I promise you that the next time you come here you 
shall be transported, if guilty. Now, mind that.' He then 
sentenced the prisoner to nine months' hard labor." — Weekly 
Dispatch, November 21st, 1852. 

In some of the cases thus Cited^ you have examples of 
offenders not more than ten years old, who afford evidence 
of consciences the most callous, and of characters already, 
as it were, coated with the prison rust of guilt. In the 
following case you have an example of cool and deliberate 
murder by a boy less than ten years old ! 



"MUEDER BY A BOY TEN YEARS OE AGE. 

Considerable excitement has been created in the village of 
Keynsham, near Bristol, by the apprehension of a boy under 
ten years of age, named Edwin Hucker, on the serious charge 
of murdering a companion of his, William Saunders, the son 
of a copper worker, residing in Milk street, Bristol, by wil- 
fnlly pushing him into the river Avon, at or near the Swinford 
copper-mills, and drowning him. The accused is the son of 
an operative lime-burner, residing at Longwell Grreen, in the 
parish of Bitton. The deceased had been living with his 
grandfather and grandmother, by whom, owing to the death 
of his mother, he had been taken when about eleven months 
old, and he was brought up at their residence, Willsbridge, 
Gloucestershire. It appears that on the 26th of April last, 
about nine o'clock in the morning, the deceased left his home 
for the purpose of going to school ; and, on wishing his grand- 
mother good-bye, he said he should be home again at half- 
past four; but she never again saw him alive. Search was 
made ; and, it being supposed that he might accidentally have 
fahen into a part of the river Avon, it was dragged, but, as it 
subsequently appeared, not the part where he was drowned. 
It seems that the accused, Hucker, and a lad named Evans, 
witnessed the ooeration of dragging ; but, though they were 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 189 

both cognizant of the fact, they said nothing as to where the 
body was. No tidings were gleaned of the poor child for 
three da3''S, when Hucker and Evans (the son of a carpenter) 
stated that he fell into the river accidentally. This statement, 
made at so late a period, naturally caused some suspicion, and 
this was strengthened by another statement made by Evans, 
who told his relations that he was in the meadow, and saw 
Hucker there, lying down on the grass, and that the little boy 
Saunders came up and jumped on to his neck ; at which 
Hucker got into a passion, and said he would hit his head off. 
Evans further stated, that about an hour afterwards he saw 
Saunders on the bank of the river picking some sorrel whit^h 
grew on its edge, and that Hucker, who was behind him, 
pushed him into the river, and said, * Hang it, he's in the 
river.' Evans likewise stated that the copper-mills were a 
little way off, that there were people there, and he was running 
to get some one to pull out Saunders, whom he saw struggling 
for five minutes, but that Hucker would not let him do so, but, 
on the contrary, held him down by his pinnafore, and said that, 
if he offered to go, he would push him in also, and jump in 
himself. After this, Hucker followed him nearly as far as 
Stoates Hill, and told him not to say anything about it, and 
he would give him something on the Friday ; which was the 
reason why he did not tell where Saunders was when he was 
missed at first. This statement having become known to the 
police authorities, police sergeant 134, of the county consta- 
laulary, questioned Evans ; and finding him adliere to his state- 
ment, he deemed it right to apprehend Hucker, and he was 
taken before Mr. Hughes, magistrate of Downend, and re- 
manded (on bail) for further examination. At this time the 
body had not been recovered ; but on Wednesday last it was 
found in the river, close to the hatchway of the Keynsham 
mills, to which it must have been carried by the floods. The 
body, on being got out, was found to be in such a state of de- 
composition that recognition of either features or figure was 
impossible. There were, however, some peculiarities in the 
little fellow's boots, and in a little bag he had with him, by 
which his grandfather was enabled positively to identify the 
corpse. Information of these circumstances was conveyed to 
Mr. Bruges Fry, coroner for North Somerset, and he at once 
issued his warrant for the prosecution of an inquest at the 
Lamb and Lark Lm, Keynsham. The accused was likewise 
apprehended by the police sergeant, and was immediately 
brought into the inquest-room. Both tl)^ grandfather and 



190 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

grandmother of tlie deceased were examined, and likewise a 
girl who, on the day of the occurrence, saw the three boys 
together crossing abridge and going in the direction of Swin- 
ford mills. The boy Evans repeated the statement he had 
before made. After a deliberation of about three-quarters of 
an hour, the jury returned the following verdict : — 'That the 
deceased child, Saunders, met his death by being pushed into 
the water by Edwin Hucker. 

The Coroner : You consider that he wilfully pushed him 
into the water ? 

Foreman ; That is the opinion of the jury, and I believe 
that amounts to a verdict of wilful murder. 

A most distressing scene here ensued between the father, 
mother, and child ; who, on hearing that the coroner had no 
power to take bail, and that the child must be taken away from 
them to prisoD, burst into tears, and were led away in the ut- 
most distress, while a great many of the jury and spectators 
were much affected. The coroner then made out the warrant 
for the committal of the prisoner for trial at the next Somer- 
setshire assizes." — Observer, May 20th, 1853. 

From the following, whicli I met with in a Liverpool 
paper a few weeks previous to the publication of the last 
case, it appears that ^^ stabbing cases have become alarm- 
ingly frequent " not alone among the bowie-knife ruf- 
fians of our frontier States, but that they so abound in 
England as to make it necessary, for example's sake, that 
a victim — of not more than eighteen years — who kills his 
companion in a drunken brawl, should be offered upon 
the altar of justice. All the circumstances of the case 
seem to indicate a very depraved state of society in 
Liverpool. 

"A YOUTH LEFT FOR EXECUTION. 

To the Editor of the Daily News : 

Sir : — Will you permit me to call the attention of your 
readers to a case which has jnst been tried at Liverpool ? A 
youth named Terrell, eighteen yea,rs of age, has been tried for 
stabbing a companion. There is no doubt that stabbing cases 
have become alarmingly frequent, and that some measures 
must be taken to repress as well as to punish them. Acting, 
I presume, on this ground, the jury found the miserable boy 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 191 

guilty of 'wilful murder.' Sentence was pronounced, and he 
ia accordingly left for execution. 

On examining the evidence given on the trial, it seems to 
me that this is exactly one of those cases in which an appeal 
may be fairly made to the Crown for the exercise of clemency. 
The youth of the prisoner could not be pleaded by itself; but, 
taken into consideration with the circumstances of the case, it 
should have some weight. 

There was no ill-will between the parties ; they, with many 
others, — idle and disorderly enough, it is true, — were together 
at a beer-house. A good deal of what such persons call 
* chaffing ' took place, and Terrell showed a pocket-knife, 
which he boasted had 'done for' many, and had yet one more 
to do for. After this there was some quarrelling, and it was 
proposed that they should leave the house and 'fight it out.' 
The evidence after this becomes very defective, and the princi- 
pal witness was not in court. It appears, however, that the 
deceased threatened the prisoner, and some 'sparring' ensued, 
during which Terrell stabbed the deceased with the knife, 
which he seems to have had in his hand all the time. The 
wound proved fatal, and the verdict of the jury is 'wilful 
murder.' 

Now, I do not complain of the verdict, though I think man- 
slaughter would have been more strictly correct. It is ad- 
mitted that the chief provocation was on the side of the pri- 
soner, and that he kept his hand on the open knife in his 
pocket, refusing to show his hands when required to do so. 
But, sir, can it be even-handed justice to visit this wretched 
boy with the same penalty as that with which the law visits a 
Rush, a Green acre, or a Good ? 

I have no sympathy with him, — at least no morbid sympa- 
thy, — nor, indeed, with his equally disorderly and dissipated 
victim. They were all, it would seem, somewhat under the 
influence of drink, nor would I have said one word had the 
penalty been anything short of death. 

But surely this is a case in which the Home Office might be 
urged to interfere — not to screen the prisoner from punishment, 
but to advise a commutation. The whole affair takes much 
the appearance of a drunken brawl. A foolish, boasting 
youth, talks of his murderous exploits — no one imagines that 
these boasts had any foundation in fact — heated with beer and 
'chaffing,' the deceased allows himself to be drawn into a 
quarrel, and we see the result. Had it not been for the fre- 
quency of stabbing cases, the verdict would undoubtedly have 



192 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR^ 

been different. As to any malice prepense, there appears not 
a shadow of evidence to support it. The penitent and terri- 
fied criminal, who accused drunkenness as the cause of his fall, 
and who expected to be severely punished, shrieked out with 
surprise and dismay when he found that his life was to be for- 
feited. 

As to what is to be done with him, and such as he, that is a 
problem which I have no doubt the wisdom of Parliament will 
ere long solve. I should be sorry to see the churches in Liver- 
pool employed as those at Exeter were a short time ago, and 
the whole town called on to take part in a great religious fes- 
tival, because an unhappy youth, who certainly did not intend 
to murder his fellow-creature, was about to be hurried into 
eternity. 

I remain, sir, your obedient servant, 

A Reader of Trials." 

{^Liverpool Mercury. 

From tlie following extract, you may form some opinion 
of these stabbing cases, which have become ^' so alarm- 
ingly frequent." 

" Three young men at Garstang quarrelled over their drink. 
One professed an intention to ' do ' for the others. His 
threat was held to be a joke. He went out, and presently 
came back, saying he had killed two of them, and gave up a 
knife. His story was but too true. He had killed one and 
seriously wounded the other. His name is Wilding." — The 
Leader, 1853. 

These cases are sufficient for the purpose which I have 
in view in bringing them to your attention, and I must 
pass to other matter, after concluding this letter, and as- 
suring you that I am, as ever. 

Very respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Greorgia, U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 193 



LETTER XX. 

BRUTALITY AND CRUELTY OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE A HIGH 

SHERIFF IN DIFFICULTY, OR A HANGMAN WANTED THE 

CHELMSFORD EXECUTIONS. 

London, October 15th, 1853. 

Deae Major : — Another feature in the social character 
of the British people, most remarkable to me, is their 
fierce brutality and cruelty. It may be said, speaking 
generally, that this characteristic manifests itself in the 
perpetration of awful murders and deeds of violence by 
m-en, women, and children. But it may be said more spe- 
cially that it exhibits itself most shockingly in the num- 
ber of murders of women by men, of wives by husbands 
(and the large proportion of both these), of husbands by 
wives, of children by parents, of parents by children ; in 
cruelty to, and ill-treatment of, helpless women, children, 
paupers, insane persons, and prisoners, by those who 
should be their protectors ; and in like cruelty on the part 
of mothers to their offspring, and on the part of both men 
and women to their inferiors and dependents. 

These are strong allegations ; but I make them after 
careful observation and reflection, and I will furnish the 
proofs of all that I charge. 

By consulting the '^ British Almanac," published in 
London by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know- 
ledge, and '' Barton's Statistical Tables," you will find 
that, for several years previous to the year 1851 (the year 
at which my observations commence), the number of capi- 
tal sentences passed for the crime of murder was about 
twenty annually, in England and Wales ; and for attempts 
to murder, not quite half that many. The number of 
executions was something more than ten annually. In 
the year 1849, there were fifteen executions for murder ; 
in 1848 there were twelve, in 1847 there were eight, and 
in another year there were thirteen ; of which three were 
17 N 



194 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

of females for tlie murder of their husbands, two of males 
for the marder of their wives, one of a man for the mur- 
der of his child, and one of a son for the murder of his 
father; seven, or a majority of the thirteen, being for 
offences in violation of what are elsewhere, certainly, con- 
sidered natural instincts and affections.'*' 

If you pause here to ask me, '^ "What became of the 
other convicts receiving sentence of death during these 
years, it appearing that not one-half of those sentenced 
were executed?" I answer, ^^Be patient, and you will 
learn something about this before I have left the subject." 

In the same publication, — the ^^ British Almanac," — I 
find that forty persons were sentenced to death in the 
year 1851 for offences against the person, and twenty- 
eight for offences against property, luith violence to the 
person. Of these, ten were executed according to this 
report ; though it would appear, from an account which I 
derive from another source, and send you, that the 
demand for executioners that year considerably exceeded 
the supply. 

"A HIGH-SHERIFF IN DIFFICULTY; OR, A HANGMAN WANTED. 

It will no doubt be in the recollection of many persons that 
the High Sheriff of Suffolk, in March last, was placed in no 
very pleasant position in consequence of the services of a hang- 
man not being obtainable to carry into execution the last sen- 
tence of the law upon Maria Clarke, for the murder of her 
illegitimate child, by burying it alive in the parish of Wingfield. 
The high-sheriff, however, on that occasion, was spared an un- 
pleasant duty by a reprieve coming down for the condemned 
woman two days before that on which her execution was to 
have taken place. At the assizes held at Ipswich, on the 2d 
inst., Maria Emily Gage was found guilty of the murder of her 
husband, James Cage, at Stonham Aspel, by administering to 
him a certain quantity of arsenic. Her execution was ordered 
to take place on Saturday (Aug. 16), in front of the Ipswich 
county jail, but the same difficulty was again presented as in 
March. Calcraft, the hangman, on being applied to, could 
not attend, as he had promised to perform a similar office the 
same morning at Norwich. An application was next made to 

* That such crimes as these may be said to be entirely unknown in 
Georgia, see App., A, §§21, 22. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 195 

the hangman at Warwick jail, but that functionary could not 
attend, as he would be similarly engaged at Shrewsbury on 
that day. A messenger was then despatched to the Secretary 
of State's office, who explained the unpleasant position in 
which the high-sheriff of Suffolk was placed, and requested 
that the execution of Mary Emily Cage might be postponed. 
The answer from the Secretary of State was to the effect that 
no alteration as to the day named could be made ; thus leaving 
the high-sheriff to get out of the difficulty in the best way he 
could. To have had the law carried into effect on Saturday 
would, in all probability, have been repugnant to the feelings 
of the high-sheriff, for, as no person could be found to supply 
the place of Calcraft, the high-sheriff must have performed 
the horrid duty himself To avoid doing that, the high-she- 
riff has, on his own responsibility, ordered the execution to be 
delayed until an early day in the ensuing week. The con- 
demned woman's demeanor is becoming her awfal position. 
She appears to be resigned to her fate, but protests that she 
is innocent. The unpleasant position of the high-sheriff, not 
only on this but on a former occasion, may be attributed to the 
usual course not being adopted — the making sure that Calcraft 
can attend before any day be appointed for the execution." — 
The Times, August 11th, 1851. 

You must be furnished with examples of some of the 
sliocking murders to which I have referred ; otherwise, 
the whole truth of th.e case cannot be realized ; for such, 
horrible occurrences are seldom or never heard of in our 
Southern States. 

I send you, first, an account of the execution of two 
notorious murderers, whose offences were committed early 
in the year 1850. 

"the CHELMSFORD EXECUTIONS. 

On Tuesday morning Thomas Drory and Sarah Chesham 
expiated their crimes, by an ignominious death, in front of the 
county jail, at Springfield, near Chelmsford. The revolting 
details of their crimes are too fresh in the recollection of the 
public, to need more than a brief allusion to them. Drory 
was convicted, on the clearest evidence, of having strangled a 
poor girl, whom he had seduced, and who was far advanced in 
pregnancy by him. His motives, it is difficult to conjecture, 
for he had no immediate object to attain, reconcileable with 
the strength of those influences which forbid men to * break 



196 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, 

into the house of life.' Her disgrace, and his share in it, 
were known, and he had no secrecy to secure. His position 
in life would soon have exempted him from her importunities ; 
and his ordinarily mild deportment, efi'eminate looks, and small 
person appear in strange contrast with the horrible details of 
his crime. The physiognomist might in vain search his fea- 
tures for indications of the cruel and relentless disposition dis- 
played in the murder of Jael Denny, and those who speculate 
on the motives actuating great criminals, may in vain endeavor 
to explore the impulses which led to this dreadful tragedy. 
Happily no doubt can be entertained of his guilt. He him- 
self has set that point at rest. The visiting magistrates, com- 
plying with his father's wish, promised that if a detailed state- 
ment were made by him, it should not be published. It is 
believed, too, that Drory himself desired to spare his family 
this last humiliation, and nothing beyond a general confession 
of his guilt has been committed to paper. He wrote it on 
Monday night. It is clearly the composition of a very illiter- 
ate person, but it betrays some traces of penitence. Ofiicial 
etiquette forbids the publishing of a verbatim copy, which 
would throw full light on the amount of Drory's education. 
It is dated 'Springfield Jail, March 24, 1851,' and is in the 
form of a petition addressed to the High Sheriff of the county 
of Essex, Drory began it by alluding to * that grievous 
offence' for which he acknowledged that he was 'justly con- 
victed,' and dreadful as it was that he was about to forfeit his 
life according to law, as an example, he hoped and trusted, to 
deter others from committing so wicked and horrid a crime. 
He prayed God that it might, and that his poor unfortunate 
victim, that he * so barbarously and maliciously' deprived of 
life, was now in heaven at rest — for with God all things are 
possible, and might the Lord in his goodness have mercy on 
his soul. His humble petition and request was, that the sheriff 
might order, if possible, that the money (£8 lis. 4d.) that 
was found on his person and taken from him by Mr. Coulson, 
superintendent of the Brentwood police station, might be 
given over to the poor unfortunate deceased's mother, Louisa 
Last, of Doddinghurst, ' part restitution for the grievous in- 
jury' he might have done her. As he desired to die at peace 
with all mankind, this would greatly obhge him (the unfortu- 
nate criminal). Such is the purport, and, as nearly as the in- 
direct form of speech can convey it, the language of Drory's 
only written confession. But though no complete statement 
of his crime was committed to paper, the natural desire to un- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 197 

burden his heart was constantly at work, and at diflferent times 
to the turnkeys and governors he verbally communicated the 
manner in which the murder was accomplished. The substance 
of these statements is, that he met Jael Denny by accident, as 
far as he was concerned, at half-past five on the evenino; of the 
murder, but he thoiig"ht that she purposely put herself in his 
way. He said he could not talk to her then, but he would in 
an hour's time have some chat with her. They met accord- 
ingly, but meanwhile he had gone to a cellar in his father's 
house, and taken part of a rope, left a fortnight before by a 
person who had brought it to tie up baskets of damsons which 
he had bought, and who had left that portion of the rope be- 
hind. He said, on one occasion, that he had carried the rope 
for several days in his bosom ; on another, that he carried it 
in his coat pocket ; and lastly, that he took it from the cellar 
immediately before the act. These statements, though ap- 
parently inconsistent, may be all true. On meeting her for 
the second time, he said that he and Jael Denny talked and 
walked about, after which, at her suggestion, they sat down 
on the bank. She had come to urge him to marry her. He 
passed the rope gently round her as they were sitting, and had 
got the end into the loop before she perceived it- She jumped 
up at once and put up her hands to save her throat (which is 
proved by the marks on her fingers), but he pulled hard and 
she fell without a struggle. He then left her lying in the field, 
and went to Brentwood. In his last moments Drory admitted 
that he was the father of the child that Jael Denny was preg- 
nant with. His aspersions upon her character were not credited 
by those most competent to judge. He had repeated inter- 
views with his friends, who were allowed free access to his cell, 
but on his side and theirs a dead silence — more expressive per- 
haps than words — was observed as to the crime of which he 
had been convicted. He showed little emotion in the presence 
of his friends, and they generally occupied the time in reading 
the Bible, or sermons, or in casual conversation. Mr. Neale, 
the governor, used a remarkable expression in describing his 
first interview with his old father. Being asked how they be- 
haved, he replied, 'They looked astounded at each other' — 
well they might ! 

Turning to Sarah Chesham, we find her crime of even a 
deeper dye than Drory's. She was forty-two years of age, 
and repute had raised her poisoning art to the dignity of ai 
professional murderess. Twice had she stood a trial for her 
life, and, as often, escaped from justice. On one occasion she 
17* 



198 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

owed her safety to tlie scruples of a Quaker, opposed to capital 
punishmeut. Amongst the crimes charged were the poisonings 
of her own children, and to crown her enormities, and to show 
that no perils could turn her from her guilty purposes, she de- 
stroyed her husband's life by small doses of arsenic. From 
the medical evidence adduced against her on her jBrst trial, she 
learnt and put in practice the art of poisoning, and now she 
has met the extreme penalty of the law without a sign of re- 
pentance, an acceptance of religious consolations, or an ac- 
knowledgment of her crimes. From time to time she has 
made statements asserting her innocence, and charging other 
people in incoherent terms with the offence for which she had 
been condemned. It has gone the round of the papers that 
she had admitted poisoning her children, but that turns out to 
be untrue ; and at the last moment, on leaving her cell, her 
protestations were as firm and decided as they have been 
throughout. 'I am innocent,' she said, 'though my neck is 
put into the halter for it.' Since her conviction she has steadily 
refused to move out of her cell, either for the purposes of exer- 
cise or religious devotion at the chapel. Drory also declined 
attendance there at first, but on Sunday last, the 23d, he inti- 
mated his desire to be present. Speaking of the spiritual con- 
dition of both the condemned, the Rev. George Hamilton, 
chaplain to the jail, with great sorrow expresses his conviction 
that they displayed no satisfactory proofs of genuine penitence 
and faith. He states that Sarah Chesham appeared constantly 
occupied in thought, and seemed perfectly to comprehend every 
argument and scriptural passage put before her calculated to 
awaken the mind. Drory, the Rev. chaplain stated, seemed 
little able to comprehend the enormity of his crime, and its 
accompanying circumstances of cruelty and treachery. 

And now it is requisite to give some account of the manner 
in which these guilty wretches bore the last trying and awful 
moments of their fate. Drory slept till half-past four o'clock, 
after which he rose and prepared himself by devotional exer- 
cises for the execution of his sentence. Chesham passed such 
a night as the guilty who are about to die impenitent might 
be expected to endure. Her mental sufferings were extreme. 
She never closed her eyes in sleep, and could taste no food. 
When nine o'clock, the hour appointed for execution, arrived, 
Drory was first taken across an open coui't-yard, to the foot 
of the gateway tower, on the top of which the black scaffold, 
dismal and bare, was reared. He quivered in every limb and 
joint of his body, and was obliged to be supported as he pro- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 199 

ceeded, while the chaplain, avoiding the usual practice, on 
such occasions, of repeating the burial service, read, instead, 
prayers suitable to the solemn occasion. Arrived at the foot 
of the staircase ascending the gateway tower, Drory was 
pinioned in a cell set apart for that purpose, and thence he was 
conducted in a state of extreme agitation and debility up stairs 
to the drop. In the meantime Sarah Chesham was with some 
little difficulty removed from her place of confinement. At 
first she seemed disposed not to move, but on being told that 
she would be carried to the place of execution if she persisted, 
she consented to walk there. Nature, however, and the terrors 
of a violent and disgraceful death were too strong for her, and 
she required the assistance of two persons as she moved for- 
ward. Drory appeared first on the fatal platform, and as soon 
as he presented himself, with drooping head and pinioned arms, 
and faint and trembling limbs, the vast crowd of spectators 
assembled below were hushed into solemn and affecting silence. 
To the number of 6000 or tOOO they had been slowly gather- 
ing there from six o'clock in the morning ; their behavior 
throughout was very orderly and sedate, though the shrill voices 
of boys at play, and the calls of orange venders might be 
heard at intervals. From all parts of the surrounding coun- 
try the assemblage had come : it consisted principally of smock- 
frocked laborers, their highlows and gaiters spattered with mud, 
and their steps heavy with the number of miles they had travel- 
led to 'the hanging.' A few farmers were present, eyeing 
askance the dismal implement above the jail gateway, and 
thinking of the minutes, hours, until the condemned made their 
appearance. There were hardly any respectable people observ- 
able in the crowd, but a most disgusting number of women. 
Some of these had gay flowers in their bonnets, and evidently 
set up for rustic belles ; others were mothers, giving suck to 
infants whom they carried in their arms ; others were elderly 
matrons, presiding at the head of their families, and from the 
elevation of the domestic spring cart pointing out to their 
young daughters how they could best see the execution. With 
these exceptions, the great assemblage in front of the jail be- 
haved itself with much propriety. Not more than half a dozen 
police were visible, though Captain M'Hardy prudently had a 
large body in reserve. The jail and the chief poKce station 
stand opposite each other, witli a wide roadway and a piece 
of open ground intervening, and it was here that the spectators 
were chiefly assembled. Drory, when placed on the drop, was 
delivered over to the hands of Calcratt, the executioner, who 



200 THE SLAVEHOLDEB ABEOAD ; OR; 

quickly drew on the white cap and adjusted the rope, while 
the miserable wretch ejaculated in broken accents, ' This is a 
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ 
Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the 
chief — of whom I am the chief — and he still kept repeating 
that last significant acknowledgment until the drop fell. After 
a delay of several minutes, during w^iich many began to fear 
that there was something wrong, Sarah Chesham was with 
difficulty placed under the fatal beam, supported, like the other 
prisoner, by two attendants. Without an instant's delay Cal- 
craft completed his simple but dreadful preparations; and 
then, while with bated breath the thousands of spectators 
below looked on, the bolt was drawn ; a faint murmur of horror 
spread among the crowd as they saw the sentence of the law 
carried into effect, which was prolonged as the convulsive 
struggles of the dying man and woman were painfully visible. 
In Drory all sign of animation was extinct in four or five 
minutes, but Chesham struggled for six or seven. They were 
both light figures, and they 'died hard.' The crowd almost 
immediately after dispersed, and few remained to witness 'the 
cutting down.' As they began to separate, hawkers of ballads 
and 'true and correct account,' of the execution, and all kinds 
of edibles, appeared among them, and the assemblage was a 
sort of moving fair on its way back to town. The long pent 
up excitement relaxed itself, it is to be supposed, in the same 
manner as the spectators of a tragedy love to close the even- 
ing with some lighter entertainment. 

The last woman hanged at Chelmsford was Anne May — 
her crime also that of poisoning. Mrs. Chesham was said to 
have been intimate with her ; but she denied this stoutly, and 
they appear to have lived in totally different parts of the 
county. In little more than an hour after the bodies were cut 
down, that of Drory was buried within the precincts of the 
jail. All applications for a cast of his head were rigidly re- 
fused, and the same v/ith the other sacrifice to justice also. 
The strictness of the authorities in this respect is much to be 
commended, for such facilities, instead of being turned to any 
useful purposes, are warped to feed the morbid curiosity of 
coarse and ignorant minds. The body of Sarah Chesham w^as 
not buried within the precincts of the jail, having been claimed 
by a relative. It appears that having been indicted for poison- 
ing, and not expressly for murder, the statute was not con- 
sidered binding in her case." — Observer, March ^ist, 1851. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 201 

All this is very horrible, Major. It is awful, indeed, to 
think of that scoundrel of an English Thugg, caressingly 
gliding his arm around the poor girl, as she sat confidingly 
by his side, slipping the fatal noose over her head, and 
then, with fierce energy springing to his feet, and strang- 
ling the struggling creature, together loith his child in her 
hosoin. 

The Avriter of the above article, you will perceive, ex- 
presses himself at a loss " to explore the impulses which 
led to this dreadful tragedy." If he would place himself 
on the stand-point which we are about to occupy, and 
survey the dread array of crimes continually occurring 
around him, he would be compelled to see that the im- 
pulses which lead to such dreadful tragedies must have 
their origin in a passion for blood-shedding — in a blood- 
lust intuitive with and native to his countrymen. 

Observe how strongly this is exemplified in the other 
case. That culprit, more exquisite in her tastes than the 
worshipper of Thuggee, was not content to put her victim 
to death by any vulgar and commonplace process — she 
had no idea of bolting the rich repast ; but, with a luxu- 
rious gratification of her appetite, she, as it were, leisurely 
sipped the .life-stream as it flowed slowly forth. She ad- 
ministered small doses of arsenic to her husband, and, 
with an epicurean satisfaction which Petronius Arbiter 
might have envied, enjoyed the pleasure of his death by 
slow degrees. Previously, it seems, she had had the com- 
fort of disposing of her children in a similar manner. 
Can we wonder that she shrank from death, as it is said 
she did, at the foot of the gallows, when she reflected that 
she was presently going where there were no more hus- 
bands and children to be slowly poisoned ? 

But I must bring this letter to an end ; and so sub- 
scribe myself 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville^ Ga., U. S. of America. 



202 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



LETTER XXL 

MURDER AT BELPER, IN DERBYSHIRE PROCEEDINGS AT THE 

INQUEST. 

London, October 29th, 1853. 

Dear Major : — In tlie early part of the year 1851, an 
awful murder of a lady was perpetrated in Derbyshire. 
Here is an account of it : 

"MURDER AT BELPER, IN DERBYSHIRE. 

A most darino' mid cold-blooded mnrder was committed on 
Saturday, the 27th ult., at Belper, eight miles from Derby. It 
appears that a man, named Anthony Turner, of Lane's End, 
near Belper, had for some years collected rents for Mrs. Barnes, 
a widow lady, who lived with a relative, Mr. Bannister, a clergy- 
man of the Church of England, at Field House, Belper. Tur- 
ner having become defaulter to a considerable amount, Mrs. 
Barnes sent him a letter discharging him from his situation. 
On the Saturday evening he went to Mr. Ilaslam's, grocer's 
shop, and borrowed a large carving-knife. After the knife was 
given to him, he said that he would do something that would 
cause him to 'be spoken of,' and walked quickly away. As he 
was in a very excited state, and had been speaking of his dis- 
missal by Mrs. Barnes, Mr. Haslam ran out and called to him 
to come back, and he heard Turner call out in reply ' I will 
not ;' but the night was so dark that he could not see Turner. 
This was at eight in the evening. Turner then went to Mrs. 
Barnes's honse, to which, however, Mr. Haslam had previously 
proceeded, and had acquainted the servant of Turner's threats. 
On Turner's arrival at the house the servant said that Mrs. 
Barnes could not be seen then ; but Turner rushed up stairs, 
and the door of Mrs, Barnes's room being fastened, he broke 
it open, and perpetrated the murder. Meanwhile the servant 
had run to call Mr. Bannister, who, in proceeding up stairs, 
met Turner with the knife in his hand. A struggle ensued, and 
Mr. Bannister threw Turner down stairs, and then proceeded 
to Mrs. Barnes's room, where he found her in a dying state. 
Turner, on leaving the house, attempted to strike tlie servant 
with the knife, but she evaded the blow. He then ran out, and 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 203 

for the time escaped. lie is married, and, having no child, he 
adopted a female infant. He is a tailor by trade, and was for- 
merly a preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist connection. He 
is about forty-five years of ap^e, five feet eij^ht inches in lieij^ht, 
black eyes, and rather a forbiddin^^ appearance. The poh'co 
were immediately on the alert in pursuit of the murderer, and 
Mr. Jededinh Striitt, the magistrate of the district, caused the 
river to be drai^g-ed in order to ascertain whether he had com- 
mitted suicide by drowninj^ himself. 

The Inqueat. — On Monday an inquest was opened upon the 
body at the New Inn, Belper, by Mr. II. Morley, the coroner. 
The jury, having viewed the body, returned to the inn, and the 
followiiif^ evidence was p^iven : — 

Mr. John Haslam, of Belper-lane, grocer and druggist, said : 
I knew Turner for twenty years. On Saturday night, about 
eight o'clock, Turner came to me in the room behind my shop, 
and sat down. He seemed full of liquor, and I said, 'Turner, 
you are full of liquor.' He said he was drunk, and I told him 
to compose himself and take a pipe. I then gave him tobacco, 
and he smoked it and became talkative. He said he had re- 
ceived a notice from Mrs. Barnes that he was discharged from 
her service. He read it to me and my wife. He had received 
it that morning. I then had to go to a customer in the shop, 
and Turner, in passing out through the shop, took from the 
counter a large knife used for cutting cheese, and said, as he 
went out, 'Excuse my taking tliis knife.' I immediately went 
to the door, and shouted ' Halloo, Turner, I want to speak to 
you, come back.' The night was dark, and I could not see 
him, but I heard him distinctly say, ' I won't.' I then got my 
hat and stick and followed as fast as I could to Mrs. Barnes's 
lodge, which I reached in about seven minutes. I saw Mrs. 
Tomlinson at the lodge door, and told her that Turner was in 
a drunken, excited state, and was coming to Mrs. Barnes's 
house to do something that 'would be talked of.' I told Mrs. 
Tomlinson to go and prevent his being admitted into the house. 
She went, and returned in a few minutes, saying 'All is right,' 
and that Turner was quietly standing in the kitchen. At tliut 
instant the alarm bell of the house was rung, and many persons 
went down to the house. I did not go down myself, but I 
heard afterwards that Mrs. Barnes's throat was cut. I have 
not seen Turner, or the knife since. 

Mary Tomlinson, daughter of the lodge keeper, at Field 
House, said : Turner had frequently called on Mrs. Barnes on 
business. My father gave Turner a note from Mrs. Barnes on 



204 ■ THE SLAVEHOLDER xiBKOAD ; OE, 

Saturday afternoon, at three o'clock. Turner asked bad my 
father read it, and he replied * No.' Turner then went away. 
Mr. Haslam called that evening at eight o'clock, but I did not 
bear what he said to my mother. I went to the kitchen door 
of the house, and saw Turner standing against a table. I told 
him that a gentleman wanted him. He asked who it was, and 
I said ' Come and you will see.' Turner said he could not come 
just then, as the servant had gone up stairs, and he would wait 
till she came down, and that be would then come. I replied, 
' Now be sure. Turner.' He said, ' You go, and I will follow 
you in a few minutes. ' I then went to the lodge, and told my 
iiTiother what he had said. Turner appeared calm, and spoke 
in his usual manner to me. As soon as I told my mother the 
alarm bell was rung. I then ran towards the house, and met 
Turner running very fast towards the lodge gates. I seized 
his left arm and said, ' Oh, Turner, what have you been doing ?' 
He replid, ' You hold off me ; go back ;' and he went towards 
the lodge, pushing me away from him with great violence with 
his arms. It was so dark that I could not see whether he had 
anything in his right hand. I then went to the house, and 
forced the back door open. Miss Harmer, a lady on a visit 
there, sent me for Taylor, a constable. 

Harriet Storer said : I have known Mrs. Barnes for the last 
twenty years. I was in her service ten years as cook. Turner 
had been in the habit of collecting rents for her at Derby since 
April last. Mrs. Barnes was sixty-four years old at the time 
of her death. Turner had frequently occasion to visit Mrs. 
Barnes's house. I knew that Mrs. Barnes gave him a discharge 
on Saturday last in consequence of his not having paid up his 
arrears. She prepared a notice, which she read over to me ; 
it discharged him from receiving any more rents. I gave the 
notice to John Tomlinson, the lodge-keeper, to give to Turner. 
This was about one o'clock on Saturday. I did not see Turner 
myself until the evening. He came to the house by the back 
door about a quarter past eight in the evening. He knocked 
at the door, and then came in without the door being opened 
to him. ' I met him in the passage as I was going to open the 
door, having heard his knock. He looked wild and bad-tem- 
pered, and appeared to me as if he was drunk. He said to me, 
' Can I see Mrs. Barnes ? — I want to see her ;' and I replied, 
' If you will go into the kitchen, I will go and see.' He then 
went into the kitchen, and I went up stairs into Mrs. Barnes's 
room, and which is called 'the nursery.' It is the room in 
which Mrs. Barnes transacted her business, and occupied a good 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 205 

deal. I found Mrs. Barnes sittin^^ by the fire writing-, as I 
pointed out to the jury this morning. I told her that Anthony 
Turner wanted to speak to her below, and that I thought she 
had better not see him, as he appeared drunk. She replied, 
'I won't see him,' and fastened the door on the inside. She 
got up, and as I went out she bolted the door behind me. I 
then went down stairs, and found him in the little room, stand- 
ing in the centre of it, by the dresser. I said to him, * Turner, 
you must excuse IMrs. Barnes tt3-night, she can't see you ; she 

will see you on Monday.* He then said, ' D you, I will 

see her,' and threw me down with my head against the corner 
of the table. He then ran up stairs. I heard him try to open 
the door and shake it, and J^ick it with his feet. He kicked it 
for about two minutes, and then I went to the Rev. Mr. Ban- 
nister, who was in the dining-room, and requested him to stand 
about, as Turner was up stairs drunk. I ran up stairs before 
Mr. Bannister came out of the dining-room, and found Mrs. 
Barnes's room-door open. I went in and found Turner stand- 
ing before her, witli his left knee on her knee, and his left hand 
on her right shoulder, and a large knife in his right hand, but 
I could not tell wliether or not he was cutting her throat. He 
was evidently holding it to her throat, but I could not see him 
cutting, as his back was between me and deceased. She had 
rang the bell before Turner forced his way into the room, and 
screamed ' Harriet' twice. She never spoke afterwards. I 
then rushed down the front stairs. I had previously come up 
the back stairs. I sent the other servant girl, Hannah Ashton, 
for Taylor, the police constable, and as 1 turned round at the 
bottom of the back stairs, I met Turner coming down them in 
great haste, as if he had been thrown down. Two steps from 
the bottom he recovered his legs. He took hold of my right 
arm with his bloody hand, and swore he would murder me. I 
could feel his hand tremble. It was his left hand. He flou- 
rished a large knife over my head, and made a cut at my face, 
but I threw my head back, and sprang away from him, and he 
let go of me at the same moment. The knife did not reach my 
flesh, but so near was it, that it cut a piece of my cap. I got 
away into a dark passage, and thence into the breakfast-room. 
He listened to find out which way I was gone, and followed me 
up two steps into a dark passage, but he could not see me. I 
heard him say, 'D — n you, I shall see you yet and finish you.' 
I then heard the alarm-bell ringing loud, and I never heard or 
saw anything of him afterwards. I remained in the breakfast- 
room until I heard he was gone. I then returned to Mrs. 

18 



206 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Barnes's room up stairs, and found Mr. Bannister there. Mrs. 
Barnes was sitting on the sofa supported by Mr. Bannister. 
She was not capable of speaking, and was bleeding very fast. 
She could not speak, but seemed sensible. I put cold water to 
her lips ; she seemed to see it, and squeezed my hand. She 
soon afterwards ceased to breathe. We laid her down on her 
back, and after one gasp, she died. Mr. Evans and Mr. Lomas, 
surgeons, had arrived just before she died. 

The Bev. J. Bannister, incumbent of Bridge Hill District 
Church, Belper, said : The deceased lived with me in the same 
house ; she was my wife's aunt, and was sixty-four years of age. 
The first intimation I had of the transaction was Harriet com- 
ing to the dining-room about eigh^ o'clock. Miss Harmer and 
Miss Harrison were in the room. Harriet called me to the 
door, and told me to stand about, as Turner was drunk up 
stairs with Mrs. Barnes. Mrs. Bannister was in the breakfast- 
room with eleven of the Sunday School girls. I was at the 
top of the two steps leading to the little hall, when I heard a 
great noise up stairs in Mrs. Barnes's room. I rushed up, and 
found her room-door open. I saw Mrs. Barnes standing in the 
middle of the room motioning with her hands, but I could not 
tell for what object. I had no idea that she had been mur- 
dered. I at first thought she had a red comforter round her 
neck, and hanging down her body. It was dark, and I did not 
at first distinguish the blood. I turned round, and saw Turner 
in the doorway waving a knife above his head, and looking at 
her and me. He said nothing, but appeared to be triumphing 
over what he had done. Imagining that Mrs. Barnes had been 
insulted, I said, ' Begone ; get out of the house ; I will fetch a 
constable to you.' I then gave another glance at Mrs. Barnes, 
and, as Turner got to the top of the stairs, I laid my hands on 
his shoulder, and threw him down the stairs. I then shouted, 
' The constable ! the bell, the bell !' Meanwhile Miss Harrison 
and Miss Turner had entered the room. Miss Harrison led 
Mrs. Barnes to the sofa. Miss Harrison put a handkerchief 
to the wound in the neck, and we applied various things. Mrs. 
Barnes, just before she died, said, * Take care of Patience and 
Louisa,' meaning my wife and my wife's sister. 

The proceedings were here adjourned to Wednesday morn- 
ing." — Obaer^ver, Januaiy bth, 1S51. 

You shall hear more from me on this subject. Mean- 
time, I am, EespectfuUy, yours, etc.. 
To Maj. J. Jones, P. Jones. 
Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 20' 



LETTER XXII. 

DREADFUL MURDER AT FROME, SOMERSET VIOLATION AND 

MURDER — SHOCKING MURDER NEAR LINCOLN — A BROTHER 
KILLED BY HIS SISTER — SUPPOSED MURDER AT BARNSLEY 
POISONINGS — A woman's HEAD CUT OFF BY HER SON. 

London, November 15th, 1853. 

Deae Major : — In the month of October of the year 
1851, a poor girl was murdered in Somersetshire under 
circumstances of the most shocking brutality. Three men 
were accused of the crime, arrested and tried for it ; and 
here follows an account of the trial : 

"THE FROME MURDER. 

At the Assizes held at Taunton, on Tuesday, William Spar- 
row, 30, William Maggs, 44, and Robert Hurd, alias Frome 
Bob, 3t, were indicted for the wilful murder of Sarah Watts, 
at Woodlands, Frome, on the 24th of September last. The 
very complicated circumstances of this case, to which no fewer 
than forty-three witnesses deposed, will more clearly appear if 
given in a narrative form. The unfortunate deceased, Sarah 
Watts, was a child of 14, the daughter of a small farmer at 
Woodlands, near Frome. On the 24th of September, her 
father and mother left home to attend Frome market, as they 
were in the habit of doing, leaving the child alone in the house. 
On their return about four o'clock, the father, on going into 
the milk-house, discovered his unfortunate child lying dead, 
with her clothes torn, and her person bruised and bloody. At 
first he had no suspicion of foul play, and, after acquainting 
his wife that the child was dead, he very quietly went into the 
-fields to drive in some cattle. Upon a surgeon being sent for, 
it was found that the unfortunate child had been ravished as 
well as murdered, and that death had been produced by stran- 
gulation arising from pressure on the windpipe. Upon the 
wall there were marks of the girl's shoes, which indicated that 
she had been taken up by the heels and forced headforemost 
into a whey tub, the milk in which was afterwards found to be 



208 THE SLAVEHOLDKH ABROAD; OR, 

disoolorod, nppnroutly by blood. Upon tlio wall near the lioor 
WMs I'oumi the impress of a left hand, and from the thumb had 
triekled down some drops oi' blood. It was also found that 
the room upstairs had been ransaeked, and a watch had been 
taken, but no money had been left there. There was a silk 
hnndkerehief left on the kitehen table. Allhough the deed 
was eommitted in broad daylig-ht, within one hundred yards of 
the road, and near some houses, there was no eye-witness to 
any part of the transavtion, and the girl had not been heard 
to cry out. An inquest was held on the body, and an aetiye 
oflieer of the deteetiye force was sent to Frome. Shortly after 
his arriyal his suspicions rested upon the prisoners, and he in- 
quired of them separately where ihey were on the day of the 
murder. They all answered with willing*ness, but gave what 
turned out to be false accounts of their doings on that day. 
The direction they had taken from hour to hour was traced, 
and it was proved that JMaggs and Sparrow had been seen 
within half a mile of the house where the murder was commit- 
ted, and they had afterwards come from ilie direction of the 
house, and had joined llurd, who was left some distance off. 
They then went on to Frome market, where they stood in the 
market-place, apparently to attract public attention, and they 
were again in the evening at a public house. Whilst talking 
together in the market, a person who was passing, caught the 
words, 'Watch, but no tin." These circumstances, the lindiug 
of a watch upon Sparrow, and the prior reputation of the 
prisoners, led to their apprehension, when it was found that 
Sparrow had a bad tlinmb, apparently produced by a bite, 
which he said had been produced by a chap in a tight on Brad- 
ley Fair day; but persons who saw his hand two days alter, 
and the surgeon who examined it, positively slated that it was 
such a wound as could not have been done so recently as three 
days, for that matter had formed beneath it. In addition to 
this, the handkerchief — the only article left behind by the mur- 
derers — was spoken to, but not very positively, by three wit- 
nesses as having been in Sparrow's possession. On Monday, 
Sept. 29, a fair was held at ^\>rth Bnuiley. seven miles from 
Frome, and when a woman named Watson, asked him had he 
heard of the murder, he said he had, and that he had seen the 
dead body on the day after the murder. That she had blows 
on her head tVom a stick, and that she had been put in a whey 
tub. which was covered with blood from her head. It appeared, 
however, that the discovery of the deceased having been put 
into the whev tub had not been made at the time of this con- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 209 

versation, and, tlierofore, the prisoner Sparrow's knowlod^^e 
of the fact seemed unaccounted for. A'^/<i'u\ni Ma^^^s, the evi- 
dence, in addition to the connection with the other prisoners 
in the movements of tlie 24t)i, was of a conversation be- 
tween Mag^s and an unknown man in a lane to the follow- 
ing effect: ' Ilast heard any news?' 'Yes, I've heerd that 
the Jjondon police officer has been to Bill Sparrow, and said to 
he, 'Ah, my good fellow, I'm glad 'wasn't you committed this 
murder, for you'll get the free pardon and £50.' To this 
Maggs replied, ' He'll neither have the pardon nor the £50, for 
he's the man that killed her.' It was, however, shown that 
the witness who spoke to this conversation had been in prison 
for a trifling ofl'ence. This witness had been much maltreated 
since he had given evidence. His windows had fjcen broken 
in, and he had been obliged to leave the neighborhood. In- 
deed, a system of terrorism appeared to have prevailed — the 
witnesses spoke for the most part as if in great fear of the 
prisoners, whose attempts at intimidation oljliged his lordship 
more than once to interfere, and to order the jailor to see that 
they kept their places. The court was occupied for eleven 
hours in hearing the case for the (Jrown, and the jury were 
then locked up at 9 o'clock, P. .M. * 

On Wednesday morning, Mr. Edwards addressed the jury 
for the prisoners, and commented on the fact that Sparrow had 
been apprehended merely because a watch was found upon 
him, which, however, turned out never to have belonged to 
Watts. He also complained of no attorney having been allowed 
by the magistrates to be present at the previous investigations; 
and he further comjjluined of the manner in which the detective 
oflicer had suddenly and abruptly questioned the prisoners on 
the suljject. He also remarked on the fact, that counsel for 
the prosecution had not produced the statements which the 
prisoners had made. 

Mr. Justice Erie then summed up ; the tenor of his charge 
was in favor of an acquittal. 

The jury then retired for two hours, and returned a verdict 
of not guilty. 

On this, Hurd exclaimed: 'My lord, we are all innocent. 
Providence has done this.' Maggs said, 'I declare to God, 
we are all innocent.' Sparrow : 'We were not within a mile 
of the spot. Grod has done it.' Hurd: 'My lord, it will be 
all found out within a month. Let me speak to Mr. Smith ' 
(the detective oflicer). They all said, ' Let us see Mr. Smith.' " 
— Observer, April I2lh, 1852. 
18* 



210 TllK Sl.WKTTOLDKK AlUuWl^; OR, 

You \viU povooivo tVom tliic^ roport that- tlioso mon wore 
aoquitiod. Tho oaj?o wui^ not full niado out agaii^j^t thoiu, 
poiMiapj^. But i^ouio man or men uuuxlorod and n\u(ilatod 
tlie poor cliild in tliis horriblo way. And what do you 
tliiniv of tho civilization of a plaoo whoro t^uoh a dood ovnild 
occur, aaid go unpunished ? And wliat of a placo whoro 
a father is to be tound. who, returning to his home, linds 
a daughter (^whom a short time previously he had left in 
hoaltli) Iving before him a bruised and bloody corpse, and 
who is vet capable of gxnng otf in\niedia(oly and *' ^j^uiotly 
into tlie fiehis to drive in some cattle? " 

Here is an account of the murder and violation of an- 
other poor child in tho spring of i8o2, exhibiting circum- 
stances of horror. o\ or which the tiends in hell might 
rojoioo with exceeding great joy : 

"VrOT.ATlON ANO Ml KCKK. 

On Thursday, n lonu-ihonovi iin^uiry. aiijonrnod from Tuosday 
evening last, was ivsuuiod and oonohulod bel'oro Mr. Baker and 
a rospootable jury, at the Fisherman's Hoat, l^romley, relative 
to the death v>f Sarah Ann Sn\iih. aged 14. wliose body was 
found in the Hiver Lea, near Tluve Mill-lane. The inqniry 
had been adjourned for a postmortem examination of the body. 
Kniilv Smith, a married woman, residing in Frederiek street, 
^lile Knd New Town, said that the deceased lived with her 
mother at Bow. Ou Friday morning last, she came to witness 
to assist in cleaning her rooms. She was with witness the 
whole of the day, and left about eight oVloek at nigiu to re- 
turn to her mother. She was very cheerful all the time she 
was with witness, and. on leaving, observed that she would 
soou he luune. 

S. Edells.in employment at the Corn Mills, Bromley, deposed 
to finding the body in tho river. 

Tiu^ mother of tho deceased, who resides at Chapel House, 
Bow, stated that her daughter was a steady girl, and that she 
had never ou any previous occasion been absent from home. 

Mr. C. E. liannan. surgeon. Albert Place, Bow, said that 
he was directed by the constable on Satuixiay week to see the 
body of the deceased, when, on examination, he fonnd snlVi- 
cieut evidence to convince him that the person of the deceax^ed 
had been very recently abused. He had since made, by order 
of the coroner, a post mortem examination of the body, and 



hu.Lv i'j:ck'h visit to knoland. 211 

waH fully couiirnKMl in the of>iniori that hor pf-rnon liarJ b'-cn 
violated within a nliort p ;riod before her death. On open- 
ing the clieHt, he diw^ovcrcd that the Becorid, third, and fifth 
ribH on tlie right nide wi-nt i'nLcAMrcA. The whole of the 
internal organs were healthy, with the exception of the brain, 
which wan very much congcKted, the effect of Huffocation. 

Foreman : Would not a violent blow by a Ktick have cauged 
the fracture of the ribH? 

Witness : Not in this case, as there are no extenial marks 
of violence, whieli i.s extraordinary. T'cHide.-;, a blow from a 
stick would not have left an intermediate rib unfractured. In 
my opinion, the fra^;tures were occasioned by some violent 
prcHHure. 

"i'he Coroner remarked that there could be but little doubt 
in the minds of the jury that the unfortunate child ha^l been 
violated by Home villain or villainn, who, in order to avoid de- 
tection, had destroyed her life. They might safely come to 
the conclusion that wilful murder had been committed. 

Verdict, wilful murder against some person or person.-: un- 
known, 

A reward has been offered by the Secretary of State on con- 
viction of the atrocious ruffians." — (JbHnri:er, April fjth, 1852. 

Early in the same year, I met with the following report 
of a barbarous murder : 

"SHOCKING MUUDEIt SEAR LINCOLN. 

On Thursday week a shocking murder was di.scovered to 
have been committed by a man upon his mother. The scene 
of the tragedy was a small house at Scotherne, near Lincoln. 
The name of the murdered woman was Sarah Webster, a widow, 
about sixty-seven years of age ; and the name of the murderer 
is John King, a farm laborer, her illegitimate son, with whom 
his victim had resided since the 21st ult. The unfortunate de- 
ceased was well known at Lincoln, where she had resided for 
the last twenty years, the greater part of which period she 
kept a house of ill-fame, where her own daughters resided with 
her in a state of prostitution. She was married some time 
after the birth of the prisoner, and had several children by her 
husband, who-^e name was Webster. It appears that the pri- 
soner is a married man, and has a son twelve years of age, 
and a daughter seventeen. He has Ijcen subjeet to fits; and 
hi.s wife, who is in the habit of going out to work, had sent for 



212 THK 8LAVF.U0LDr.K AJUU^Al^ : OK. 

lior to t{\ko oaro t^f him in hor nbsoiioo. On tlio da.)' pn^oediujf 
the nuirdor lio jstruok lus nivHhor a UKnv as v^ho was jiivinii- \\\m 
j^omo tea, and fivni thai tin\o sho ai>poaivd torriliod at his viv>- 
lomH\ On Thui^sday wook tho uun^lorod wonian was \v({ aU)no 
with tl\o pnsi>t\or, his wilo and danuhtor havinu" uv»no to a 
funeral in the villajro of Soothorno. Tlio poi^soti w ho li\ os noxt 
door to tho prisoner was roturninjj home about four o'ehu'k, 
when the prisoner he»'koned at her from the wiiidow ; and. as 
^he ap[>roaelied. he put out lus hands, and said, ' Come on, I 
haTO had a spree, and am ready for you again.' On euterlt>j? 
the house she diseovered the unfortut\ate woman seated in a 
ohaii\ and welterinjr in her hlood. Her head was hanjiinix on 
her rijyivt arm. atid vshe wa^ bleeiiing from (he mouth and faoi\ 
An alarm was u\aile. and several neiiihbors were soon ot\ tho 
spot. They disooveivd that the deeeased wa< vpiite dead. It 
k believed that the prisoner had beaten his mother with his 
fists about the head and taee, and that she had fallen iM\ the 
edgv of the ehair. breaking" her jawbone in the eentre. The 
blood had spurted throug^h the spindles of the ehair. and stained 
the wall underneath the window. The prisoner's right hand 
was eoveivd with blood. An inquest was held on the body 
immediately afterwartls by ^Ir. Hitehens, the eoroner; and 
after the examination of a number of witnesses, and a post 
mortem examination of the body, the jury returned a verdiet 
of wilful munier against the prisoner, and he was forthwith 
committed to the assizes at Lineoln." — Olyi^enrr, Jlardi T/yi, 

You w ill oosorvo iiuu iliis was ilio luurdor of a mother 
by lior own ;^ou. Ho w^a^ an illogiiinvato j?on, it is triio, 
and his motlior was an iufeunou^ w omaii ; but in othor 
^^H.>uutrios. ^.vrRiinly. the natural instinot^ arc not oblite- 
ratod from suoli pvK>ph\ 

A$ anothor oxaniplo of that moi*al ossifiaxtion of tho 
heart which ^oom^^ to alx>und in this oountrv, take tho tol- 
lowing oa:^o, which occurred botw\Kn\ bix^thor Mid sister, 
also in tho spring of ISoi! : 



A KuoTUKu killi:t> by nis sister. 

On Wednesday last an inquest was held at Oolefoixi. on tho 
bmiy of Edwin Gwyn, :ii>. laborer, of Lane Knd, residing w ith 
his mother and sist4?r. It appears that on Friday, the ^Tth 



HILLY Ur/CK'.H VIHfT TO K.VaLAND. 213 

nit,, (\('j'Cii.H<',([ fiH\<(;<\ bin iriotlifU' for rnorHiy to ^o to (JoUiford 
witji. Sfi<; r<;ruH';fi ; liiH HiHt,<;r, Afjfi Owyn, Haying, * I'>lwiri, 
you r;arinot oxf)Oct rnoi}i*;r to be alwayw pr\v\u^ you rnorioy,' 
I)f;r;r;}j,Hr;rl then eomrnoiioed Htrikinj^ u.u(l kwikinjr lier about tfio 
\)<)(\y arifj head. Hfio wan at thin time ironing elothen on a 
tabh;. She then ran out of the houne with the flat-iron in her 
hand, (ieeeanefi fVdlowin^ her. When nlie ^r»t out of doorn, Hhe 
turn';d Jironrid jind tjirew tfie iron at hirn, vvfiieh Htrnek fiirn on 
the, rijrht Hi(ir; of hiH head, eauHJn^ the blood to flow from hin 
ears, noHf;, and mouth, Mr. Hatten, Hur^'eon, of Coleforfl, 
waH .sent for immf;diat(;ly ; f*ut,, demeaned Htill ^^ettin^ worne, in 
al)out hair an hour he went up .stairw to bed, became iuHensIble, 
and never Kpoke or moved afterwards, and on Hunday fie died. 
Mr. natJen made a '/foM raoHr/m, examination of the body, and 
on openin^^ the head, found tfie Hkull fraetured about an inch 
above tlie ear, extendinj.^ to the ear, and into tfie bane of tfie 
Hkull, There wa.s a Hlijrht indentation to the fraetiire, whiefi 
eorreHf)onded exactly with the heel part of the flat,-iron. Ifc 
alHO found some coagulated blood under the skull, on the brain, 
caused by the rujjture of a blood-vessel and tfie fracture of tfio 
Hkull. The jury returned a verdict of excusable fiomicide — 
deeidin<( that the act was done in self-defence." — Ohnerwr, 
Marck J 5/5//,, 1852, 

A fow day.H aftorwardH, the two cano.s following wore 
reported by the Harne paper : 



" HUPI'08KI> MURDERS AT HARNSLEY. 

On Wednesday morninjr, some colliers, wfio reside on the 
))remises fVjrrnerly occufiiefl as the WoofJman Inn, near Barns- 
ley, started for tfieir work. VVfien about twenty yards from 
their own doors, they found a female named Annie Laycock, 
af(efl twenty-three years, lyin;^ with fier daui^lit.er Kmily, aj^ed 
ten rnontfis, in lier arms, both of whom fiad tfieir throats cut. 
The head of tlie cfiild waH nearly Hevered from its body. De- 
ceased was rnarricfl af)oiit three years aj(o to an excavator 
named 'I'fiomas Smitfi ; but, in consequence of Smitfi havin;^ 
another wife, I^aycock left him, and has since been cohabiting 
witfi a j>erson named James (jledhill, a ]>oacher. '^I'fiey 
resided in a batcfi of houses adjoining to Sheffield and Wake- 
field turnpike-road, about 200 yards from the place where the 
bodies wani found, ft is stated tfiat he was in the habit of 
ill-using the i>oor woman. On Monday he was drinking at 



21-i THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Barnsley, and when he went home he beat her so much that 
the neig'hbors interfered ; but he continued his ill-treatment. 
Gledhill has been taken into custody." — Observer, March 
2m, 1852. 

''POISONING. 

• 

At Bury St. Edmunds Assizes, on Thursday, William Ro- 
binson, ag'ed eighty-two, was convicted of the murder of Ann 
Cornell, at Great Thurlow, in August last. The prisoner, who 
appeared in the dock almost in a dying state, lived at Great 
Thurlow, near Newmarket, with his daughter-in-law, Mary 
Rollinson, the widow of his son, wlio died in 1850. In 1851, 
one Jermyn courted Mrs. Rollinson, and the old man strenu- 
ously opposed the match, but without effect — it being deter- 
mined by the lovers that they would marry, and remove Mrs. 
Rollinson's furniture from the prisoner's house. Under these 
circumstances, it was shown that one day in August, when Ann 
Cornell, the sister of Mary Rollinson, came to dine with her, 
they were both taken ill immediately after eating some pud- 
ding made of flour kept by Mary Rollinson in an open trough, 
and eventually Ann Cornell died and was buried — it being 
then supposed l)y the medical man attending her that she died 
of English cholera. Before this, similar but not fatal symp- 
toms arose after Mrs. Rollinson had partaken of dinner ; and 
some time afterwards Mrs. Rollinson was again taken ill after 
eating dumplings made from the same flour. Inquiries were 
then made, which left no doubt that the prisoner had put 
arsenic into the flour. Ann Cornell's body was exhumed, and 
it appeared she had died from taking arsenic. The prisoner, 
whose aim appeared to have been to destroy Mary Rollinson, 
was sentenced to death." — Observer, Mai^ch 2Wi, 1852. 

Here is anotber report of a mother's murder by her 
son about this time. I shudder whilst I enclose the 
ghastly picture wliicli it presents. 



" HORRIBLE MURDER IN LAMBETH. 

A Woman's Head cut off by her Son. 

A sensation which it would be difficult to describe was 
caused yesterday (Saturday) afternoon, throughout the neigh- 
borhood of Kennington Road and Lambeth, in consequence 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 215 

of the followinc^ fri^i^htful murder, committed hj a young man 
upon his motluT, a respectably connected female, of the name 
of Elizabeth Wheeler, a widow, of about forty-four years of 
age. The following particulars connected with this dreadful 
tragedy were obtained on the spot a few minutes after the 
melancholy occurrence : 

Tlie house in which the tragedy took place was No. 1 Dur- 
ham Place, Kennington Road, and immediately facing Beth- 
lehem Hospital for lunatics. The building was occupied by 
Mr. Wickens, a dyer and scourer, a family named Toms, and 
the unfortunate woman who has been thus prematurely hurried 
into eternity, and her son, a young man about twenty-eight 
years of age. 

Yesterday afternoon, at a few minutes before one o'clock, 
Mrs. Toms, who was in the house at the time, had her atten- 
tion directed to a loud scream proceeding from the upper part 
of the building, which was succeeded by a heavy fall of some- 
thing on the floor. She immediately went to ascertain the 
cause, when the son of the unfortunate woman made a hasty 
retreat out of the building, carrying in his hand a stick and a 
knife. Mrs. Toms, having entered the apartment occupied by 
the poor creature, was horror-struck at finding the trunk of 
the woman lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and the head, 
which was completely severed from the neck, was lying on a 
table in the same room, the flesh still moving to and fro. Mrs. 
Toms instantly hastened down stairs, and informed her hus- 
band that the young man had murdered his mother. By that 
period, he had proceeded some distance up the Kennington 
Road, in the direction of the common. Mr. Toms, however, 
never lost sight of him, but followed his track until he got 
within a few yards of Chester street. At that point police- 
constable Lockyer, No. 135, came along, and having had his 
attention directed to the alleged murderer, he forthwith secured 
him. He at once admitted that he had murdered his poor 
mother, and informed the officer that he first struck her on the 
head with an iron, and afterwards cut her head off by means 
of an axe and a knife. The constable at once took the man 
to the station-house in Kennington Lane ; and on his way 
thither he told the officer he was now sorry that he had com- 
mitted the murder, but the fact was he could not help it, for 
his mother and other persons were continually torturing him 
and following him about. He also informed the same officer 
that he had been confined in a lunatic asylum, and had not 



216 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

been liberated long. The murderer, when arrested, did not 
offer the least resistance, and, to all onlward appearance, did 
not feel the awful position he had placed himself in. 

From the state of the room, there is no doubt entertained 
but the unfortunate female was in the act of leaving the apart- 
ment with a saucepan of greens in her hand, in order to strain 
off the water, when her son gave her a violent blow on the 
head, which felled her to the floor ; after which, he must have 
knelt upon her body and performed the act of decapitation. 
The saucepan was l3dng near the door, and the steam was still 
ascending from the greens therein. In the midst of the pool 
of blood was lying a pillow, which it is believed the murderer 
had placed there to prevent the gore from flying over his 
clothes. When apprehended by Lockyer, not a spot of blood 
was perceptible upon his clothes, and his hands were perfectly 
clean — leading to the supposition that after perpetrating the 
dreadful deed he had washed his hands. 

In the afternoon, the prisoner was examined before the 
Hon. Mr. Norton, at Lambeth police office. The prisoner, on 
being placed at the bar, looked Avildly around him, and ap- 
peared to be either unconscious or indifferent to the position 
in which he was placed. He was dressed in a black frock- 
coat, black waistcoat, and light woollen trowsers. He had a 
black scarf, or neckerchief, twisted rathar.^than tied round his 
neck. He is a well-made man, with large' black eyes, regular 
features, and an intelligent countenance." — Observer, April 
Uth, 1852. 

I doubt not but that this wretched young man was 
insane ; and I refer to the case for the purpose of slioAving, 
not that a sane man committed this unnatural and savage 
crime, but as an illustration of the way in which insanity 
tends to develop itself in this blood-stained land. In an- 
other country, where the lunatic had not been all his life 
familiar with deeds of blood, by hearing of or witnessing 
them, and where he had not, as it were, inherited this 
taste for blood, his insanity would have manifested itself, 
I have no doubt, in some milder form ; and at all events 
(especially if he was not a raving and raging maniac, as 
this man was not), would never have urged him to the 
perpetration of such a crime upon the person of his 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 217 

own mother. The case thus serves to show, in another 
aspect, what manner of men this EngHsh people are. 
I will resume the subject in my next; and am, 
Very respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTER XXIII. 

ALLEGED MURDER OF A GENTLEMAN BY HIS HOUSEKEEPER. 

London, November 22d, 1853. 

Dear Major : — On Wednesday, the 2d of February, 
in the present year, a housekeeper was charged before the 
Lambeth Police Court with the murder of an aged and 
infirm gentleman, of whom she had the charge. I fur- 
nish you with a report of the case from a paper of the 
6th of February. You will find it both curious and 
shocking. 

"ALLEGED MURDER OF A GENTLEMAN BY HIS HOUSEKEEPER. 

On Wednesday, Elizabeth Tickers, a middle-a^ed and well- 
dressed female, was charged at Lambeth Police Court with 
having by violence caused the death of Mr. William Jones, an 
aged gentleman of considerable property, with whom she had 
lived for many years as housekeeper. 

The death of Mr. Jones was discovered on the 10th ult., two 
days after it occurred, and its causes were investigated by a 
jury, who attributed the event to a fall. The facts detailed 
below, however, led to the prisoner's apprehension, notwith- 
standing the verdict of the inquest. 

The first witness called was Mr. David Key, a surgeon, of 
Brixton, who said : I attended Mr. Jones, who lived at Spring- 
field Cottage, near Acre lane, at intervals, for several years. 
On the 1 0th of January I was called to Mr. Jones' house about 
19 



218 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR; 

about half past 5 or 6 o'clock in the morning, and went there 
a little after 8. I found Mr. Jones dead, lying upon a sofa in 
the back parlor. He was dressed as usual, and lying on a 
blanket which was wrapped round him. The prisoner was in 
the room at that time. I asked her how long he had been 
lying there. She said she could not get him up to bed the 
night before ; that he asked her for a little water, which she 
gave him, and that he died at half past 3 o'clock in the morn- 
ing. She said she could not get him up stairs, because he was 
so helpless, and that he had expressed a wish that she should 
sit up with him. I asked her what time he was down on the 
Sunday (the day before), and she said she could not tell me 
the exact time, but that he had dined up-stairs, and after that 
he came down, I asked her if he had had any spirits, and she 
said he had had a little gin and water, but could not tell the 
exact quantity. She said he had lain on the sofa from the time 
he came down until he died. T asked her if he had made any 
snoring noise, and she said no. I asked her if he was insensi- 
ble, and she said no. She said he died directly after taking 
the water. I asked her if he had swallowed any. It appeared 
to me to be a very confused account that she gave. I then 
examined the body, and found several wounds on the forehead. 
The witness here described the wounds with considerable mi- 
nuteness ; they were contused wounds, and seven or eight in 
number, but the two principal were one on the forehead, and 
the other on the right temple. The lower cartilage of the nose 
was also broken. The injuries could not have been inflicted 
more than five days before, but might have been of much later 
date. Corresponding with the bruise on the right temple, there 
was a sufficient effusion of blood between the dura mater and 
the skull-bone to press upon the brain, by which death was 
caused. The prisoner told witness the injuries had been caused 
by falls. The old man was decidedly a healthy subject. No 
single fall would produce such wounds, nor, in witness' opinion, 
could they be accounted for by a succession of falls. Witness 
added : I have been to see the deceased several times, w. n I 
could not get in, but not for a month or two before his d ath. 
I saw him once in August last ; he had then two black eyes 
and a slight scratch or two upon the nose, and likewise upon 
the chin. The prisoner was present at the time, and I asked 
him, in her presence, if he had fallen down stairs. He made 
no answer ; but the prisoner, before he had time to do so, 
exclaimed, ' Don't answer,' and he did not. 

Miss Susan Allen, of No. 5, Springfield Cottages, Acre-lane, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 219 

Brixton, said : The deceased resided next door to me. On 
New Year's-day last Mr. Jones came to the fence of the garden 
and spoke to me. He was then in excellent health and very, 
cheerful, but he had a very large bruise, as big as a walnut, on 
the right side of his head, near the temple, and a large bruise 
above that as large as a middle sized teacup on the right side 
of the head. He had his nightcap on at the time, and it was 
much stained with blood. It was put on so as not to cover 
the injuries, so that I could plainly see them. I have frequently 
seen bruises on him before this, and he has complained to me 
about them. I have seen the prisoner beat him violently and 
l)ull him about by his grey hair. I have seen her pull him 
from the garden fence to his own house by the hair, beating 
him on the head and shoulders with her clenched fists. I have 
seen her beat, him with both her fists about the head. This 
was in the course of last spring. I have seen violence used by 
her in the autumn before. She pulled him in then by the hair 
of the head, and beat him with her fists on his head ; and she 
said then she would make him remember going out, as she had 
desired him not, while she was out. For the last twelvemonth 
not a week had passed without my hearing her beating him. I 
can hear it from outside the house. I had listened at his re- 
quest. The prisoner frequently came home intoxicated. I 
believe she has scarcely been seen sober for an entire day for a 
year. She told me that Mr. Jones had made over £1000 in 
their joint names, and she wished it in her own name, but Mr. 
Key had persuaded Mr. Jones not to do so ; but she would 
make him remember going from his promise as long as he 
lived : that she would let him know that she was a Leon re- 
solved ; and as he had called upon Mr. Key unknown to her, 
he should never go out of the house by himself again ; and, if 
Mr. Key came there, she would kick him out. On the Sunday 
following, Mr. Jones came to me and showed me bruises on his 
head. His eyes were blackened and his head bruised and 
blpf^rling. I have repeatedly heard her drive him up stairs, 
and J)ck him up, then go out, and come home drunk. On the 
Fric iy night before he died, at about 11 o'clock, the prisoner 
came home drunk and lay on the ground outside their door 
for about three-quarters of an hour, abusing Mr. Key, and call- 
ing out, 'Old Jones, come and let me in.' Then the door 
opened, but was shut again, for the policeman was then with 
her. When the policeman went away, the prisoner went in 
and shut the door, and in two minutes after I heard a heavy 
fall in the passage or on the stairs. It appeared to me that 



220 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

the prisoner had fallen on Mr. Jones at the door. I went in- 
side then, and went to bed. The next morning, at 1 o'clock, 
heard the door of the house shut. At 9 o'clock I found the 
shutters still closed. At 1 o'clock in the day I saw the pri- 
soner, and was going to speak to her about Mr. Jones, but she 
shunned me. I listened the whole of that day and night, but 
could not hear Mr. Jones. He had a cough, which I heard 
generally, but on that day I could not hear it. On the Sun- 
day morning I looked for the prisoner, but could not see or 
hear anything of her, and at 11 o'clock I went to church. 
When I returned, at 1 o'clock, I still found the shutters closed. 
I then looked at Mr. Jones's window, and saw the blind up, and 
the prisoner stood at the side of the window. She looked very 
agitated, and I nodded to her, but she did not return it, and 
seemed much confused. I repeated my nod to her, but she did 
not notice it, and I then went to the back of the house, and 
found it fastened. I watched the house, but saw no one go 
out. At 5 o'clock I heard a cab drive away from the gate, 
and some person speaking. At that moment the prisoner came 
out and picked up the papers that had been thrown into the 
garden by the postman at 9 o'clock in the morning, and had 
been lying there all day. I watched the house all day, and 
saw no light or heard any person until the Monday, when I 
saw Mr. Key come with the undertaker. On the New Year's 
Day, when she came home in the evening, the prisoner beat 
him, and threatened that if he showed himself out again, she 
would kick his life out. I distinctly heard the prisoner say, 
' I'll tear your eyes out, you old devil,' and then I heard blows 
and a sound as if a stick was being used. The deceased fell 
on the floor and cried and groaned. She beat him so violently 
that I think he was past doing anything. She then made him 
lie down on the sofa, and said she should leave him, and he 
begged her not to do so. She went out at half-past six, lock- 
ing him up, and then she was intoxicated. 

Mrs. Annie Gray, a respectable married female, said : The 
house I lived in was next door to the late Mr. Jones's, but that 
house was left on the 6th of December last. I knew Mr. Jones 
well, but never had a conversation with him but twice. The 
•first time, in July, I told him I was sorry to see him so poorly 
and infirm, and added that it was a pity to see him in the state 
he was in. His reply to me then was, ' I am a miserable man.' 
I told him that if he wanted anything, and tapped at the wall, 
I would render him all the assistance in my power. I have 
often heard cries in the house of the deceased. Mr. Jones and 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 221 

the prisoner used to have serious disputes about money mat- 
ters. I have heard the latter say, ' Give me the money and 
let me go.' At other times I heard her beat the old man. The 
deceased used to say to her, 'Don't leave me.' I distinctly 
heard the sound of a slap on the face which the prisoner gave 
the deceased. I have frequently heard them quarrel, and 
heard the deceased utter the cries of ' murder ' on two or three 
occasions. The iirst time I heard these cries was in the month 
of July, I think, and on that occasion my husband heard them 
as well as myself, and he spoke to a policeman about it. The 
next time I heard the cries of ' murder ' was in the latter end 
of jSTovember. About that time they were quarrelling almost 
daily, and I then heard the sound of blows. In one of these 
quarrels I heard the prisoner say ' Give me the money and let 
me go,' and his reply was, ' Don't leave me ; I cannot lose you.' 
She then asked him how he dared to go to Mr. Key ? The 
old man not answering her, I heard several blows and groans, 
as if they came from a person in intense agony. I have seen 
gentlemen apply for admission, but refused. I have let gen- 
tlemen over the wall of my garden, on their telling me that the 
prisoner would not let them in, though I knew she w^as in at 
the time. This was m the month of October. They rang the 
bell, and Mr. Jones came out to speak to them, and said he 
could not admit them. They were nephews of the deceased, 
and said they particularly wished to take Mr. Jones away, as 
they understood his life was in danger. 

Miss Maria Hammond, who also lived next door to the de- 
ceased, detailed at some length the particulars of what she saw 
and heard of the prisoner and the deceased. She said that on 
the night on which Mr. Jones died, she was much disturbed by 
the quarrelling between the prisoner and the deceased. In 
the course of the night she was awoke by one of these quar- 
rels. From the voices she could distinctly tell that there w^ere 
only the prisoner and the deceased in the room (the back 
parlor) at the time. Distinctly heard the prisoner talk angrily, 
and heard the deceased say, ' Oh, what do you say ?' Imme- 
diately after this she heard a heavy fall on the floor, and this 
was followed by a perfect death-like silence, during which wit- 
ness did not hear even a breathing or whisper. This was 
broken by the prisoner opening the door and admitting, as the 
witness believed, some persons to her assistance, as she could 
distinctly hear several voices ; and, for the remaining part of 
the morning, the noises from the room appeared to be most 
unpleasant. 
19* 



222 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

Mr. Elliott : ' What did this noise resemble ?' 

Witness : ' The seratchiug and scraping of the floor with a 
shovel. ' 

Police constable, John Grant, 170 P, said that on the morn- 
ing of the 10th of Jannary, he was on dnty in Acre-lane, 
Brixton, and at abont five o'clock in the morning he saw the 
prisoner come ont of the honse of JMr. Jones, and go in at the 
gate of a person named Evans, which was three doors off. He 
wished her ' good morning,' bnt she made him no reply. She 
appeared to him to have been drinking, and seemed much 
frightened. He saw no more of her that morning. 

Mr. Wm. Jones, 155 Tottenham-conrt-road, said — * The de- 
ceased, Mr. Wm. Jones, was my nncle. In the month of August 
last, I visited at his late residence, and on my entering the 
house I found him shaving himself, and could see that he had 
marks of serious violence on his face. I asked him how he 
had received them, upon which he exclaimed, * Hush, hush, 
she's in the next room ; I can't tell you now, but will presently.' 
The door of the next room was opened, and the prisoner, who 
must have heard my question, entered the room where we were, 
and my uncle seemed so nervous about it that I did not press 
the question a second time, as the prisoner took care not to 
leave us alone, or give us an opportunity. I have made four 
or five attempts to see my uncle, but could not, as the prisoner 
would not admit me inside the house, or to his presence.' 

Mr. Elliott having announced his intention of sending the 
case before a jury, the witnesses were bound over to prosecute, 
but the prisoner was remanded. She left the bar with a care- 
lessness amounting to levity. 

The police officers, in searching the house of the late Mr. 
Jones, found the will of the deceased, from which it appears 
that the property amounts to A'3000, and that, after bequeath- 
ing £200 a piece to two of his nephews, £100 to a third, and 
£300 to Mr. David Key, his medical adviser, he left the resi- 
due, with his furniture, to his housekeeper, EUzabeth Tickers 
— at present in custody; so that, after paying the funeral 
and other expenses, she would be entitled to over £2000. 
The reports of the inquest having disclosed that Tickers 
was a legatee, last Monday's post brought a letter addressed 
to her (now in the hands of the police), of which the follow- 
ing is a copy : — 

* Coventry, January 29. 

' Madam, — I have taken the Liberty of writing these few 
lines hoping that It will not give any offence. I have applied 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 223 

to you has I am In want of a good domesticated Wife, and 
no doubt //a.s' you have lost your Master No douVjt but what 
you should Like a good home and a good partner and If you 
think any thing aljout It Please to let me know l)y the return 
of Post and Please to let me know Particulars I mentioned 
that Mh to ask you your age To Se If they will correspond 
with mine for My Age hia 40 Though I have seen you once or 
twice. And you Perhaps dont know Me But if you answer 
this immediately you will Soon Be me If you are not engaged 
with any one. 

* I Remain yours Respectfully, 

C. H , Coventry. 

' My address his this Mr cutler Street Coventry 

War.' ''—Weekly Dispatch, Feb. Qlh, 1853. 

Is it not enougH to try the nerves of as stout a man as 
you are, Major, to think of what that aged and helpless 
sufferer endured during those dreadful days and nights 
when he was piteously, and like a child, trembling, cry- 
ing, and begging, under the torments of that she-devil ? 
Uncle Tom and his persecutors are fictions ; and this peo- 
ple, men, women, and children, are weeping over these 
fictions, supposed to have happened in the far-off valley 
of the Mississippi, whilst they have no tears to shed over 
the /acts here related, and which expose the hell of tor- 
ture to which this old gentleman was subjected in this 
city of London, by a monster as odious as Legree. In- 
deed, if he thus called Legree were anything but a fig- 
ment in the imagination of a shrewd Yankee woman, I 
should certainly apologize to him for the comparison I 
have made. His victim had no such claims upon his 
mercy as had this old man upon his destroyer. His vic- 
tim, though represented as innocent and inoffensive, was 
not, from years, infirmities, and habit, so entirely depend- 
ent upon him as was this sufferer upon his persecutor ; 
nor had the slave-master been indebted to his victim for 
striking benefits and favors. Such are the thoughts that 
passed through my mind when I read this account; and 
I think you will agree with me that they were natural 
and reasonable. 

On a subsequent day, this woman was again brought 
before the magistrate, and I send you a report of what 
transpired then and there. 



224 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



"THE ALLEGED MURDER AT BRIXTON. 

On Tuesday, Elizabeth Yickers, late housekeeper to Mr. 
William Jones, of Spring-field cottages, Brixton, and who 
stood renianded for the willful murder of her late master, was 
again placed at the bar of the Lambeth police court, before 
Mr. Elliott, for final examination. 

]\rr. Ebsworth, from the othce of Messrs. Scadding and Son, 
Gordon square, who were for many years solicitors to the de- 
ceased, and are at present employed by his nephew, attended 
for the prosecution ; aud Mr. Solomon for the defence ; the 
court w^as much crowded. 

Sergeant George Quinnear, P. 1, deposed that, since the 
prisoner's last examination, he, accompanied by his super- 
intendent, Mr. Luud, visited the late residence of the deceased 
(Mr. Jones), for the purpose of making a more minute search 
of the things in the house. On examining the couch in the 
back parlor, on which the deceased was represented to have 
died, they found stains of blood on the lining at the top, or 
head part. 

Mr. Elliott : How came you to see the lining ? 

Sergeant Quinnear : The horsehair covering, your worship, 
was worn away, aud the stains of blood were visible on the 
canvass that remained. There was a small bed placed on this 
couch, and on two places in this bed marks of blood were 
quite visible. 

The prisoner here, in a most vehement and violent manner, 
exclaimed, ' No, no I I say no.' 

Sergeant Quinnear : On removing a colored cotton case 
from a pillow used on the couch, and turning it inside out, we 
found evident marks of blood on it, which it had been endeavored 
to remove by washing, but which were, notwithstanding, still 
quite observable. 

Prisoner (^vehemently) : They are not stains of blood, but 
of porter. 

Quinnear : On searching among the dirty linen, heaps of 
wdiich were in all parts of the house, we found another sheet 
with stains of blood on it, and this we have taken away with 
the pillowcase. We searched the house very carefully, and 
could find no money, though, from inquiries I have made, I 
have reason to believe that a short time before, the deceased, 
Mr. Jones, had received £28 odd, the amount of his dividends. 
The only sum found was £1 6s. 6d., which was on the person 
of the prisoner when she was taken into custody. Since the 



BILLY BUCK'S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 225 

last examination I have seen a man named Collins, a p-ardoner, 
who had been examined before the coroner's jury, and who, on 
bein^ so examined, swore that he had seen the deceased fall in 
his own garden, when his head came with some violence against 
the wall. I have asked this i)erson to point out tlie spot wiiere 
he saw the deceased fall, and he has done so ; but it is my 
opinion that, from his description, it is quite impossible, if he 
even had fallen there, that he could have hit his head against 
the wall or injured himself. 

Mr, Solomon objected to this hearsay evidence, and tlic 
opinion founded upon it being placed on the depositions. 

Mr. Elliott admitted that it was not strictly evidence, and, 
therefore, would not appear on the depositions. The solicitor 
engaged for the prosecution might call Collins if he thought 
proper. To Sergeant Quinnear : Have you anything further 
to say? — Quinnear: (Jnly this, your worship; that the pri- 
soner bears a shocking character in the neighborhood, and has 
been frequently led home quite drunk by different and strange 
men. 

Mr. Solomon : That forms no part of the charge against 
her. 

Sergeant Quinnear : Well, I have only to add, that we found 
the house in a shocking state. In fact, it stank most ofien- 
sively— heaps of soiled and half-washed clothes were in every 
part of it, and in my opinion not a single article had been 
washed there for five or six months. 

Prisoner : How do you know that ? 

Quinnear : I was told it by Miss Allen, who informed me 
that for several months she has not observed a single article 
hung out to dry. 

Prisoner : Miss Allen had better mind her own business. 

John Neale, shopman to Mr. Fillmer, pawnbroker, in Ken- 
nington road, opposite Kennington common, deposed, that the 
silver snuff-box, the silver watch, and other articles he then 
produced, had been pawned with him at his master's, on the 
13th of last month, for £3, by the prisoner. She then gave 
the name of Elizabeth Vickers, and her residence in Acre lane, 
Brixton. 

Prisoner : I did pawn the things, and the property is my 
own, though Jones may swear to it, if he dares. The articles 
were purchased for and presented to me. (The prisoner here 
became so vehement and violent, that her own solicitor had to 
beg of her to be quiet, assuring her that by her conduct she 
was doing herself much mischief;. 

P 



THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Mr. William Jones, the nephew of the deceased, next got 
into the witness box, and, when sworn, said that, to the best 
of his belief, the watch and other articles produced belonged 
to his uncle. 

Prisoner : Then you have sworn to a lie. They are mine ; 
and therefore you have taken a false oath. The snuff-box 
was given to me by your uncle, and also the watch hi d other 
things. 

The prisoner was here asked in the usual manner if she had 
anything to say to the charge, and Mr. Solomon replied in the 
negative. Upon which Mr. Elliott committed her to take her 
trial at the Central Criminal Court, for the wilful murder of 
her late master, Mr. William Jones." — Observer, February 
lull, 1853. 

I will continue tlie subject in my next; and in the 
mean time, am, 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, G-a., U. S. of America. 



LETTER XXIV. 

MURDER ON THE HIGHWAY IN ESSEX INQUEST ON THE BODY 

— CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER — DREADFUL MURDER IN 
DEVONSHIRE ATROCIOUS MURDER AT WAKEFIELD. 

London, November 29th, 1853. 

Dear Majoe : — On Tuesday, the 8tli day of February, 
in the present year, at about nine o'clock in the morning, 
a foot passenger was murdered on one of the high-roads, 
of one of the metropolitan counties, within nine miles of 
the heart of London, and under circumstances of shock- 
ing barbarity. The murdered man was on his way to the 
railroad station at Ilford, it seems. There were at least 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 227 

two witnesses of the deed, and yet, to nse the language 
of a paper from which I shall presently send you an ac- 
count of the murder, '^ Strange to say, though the ter- 
rible crime was perpetrated in open day, the murderer did 
not escape, only, as it were, by a miracle. For a full 
hour, the criminal was missing ; and then he was arrested 
only by an accident. If he had passed by the direct road 
to the metropolis, he would in that period have attained 
the outskirts of town, and would have soon been lost to 
pursuit in the streets and alleys of Whitechapel. As it 
was, it would appear that he missed his road, and, like a 
doomed man, made a rotary or circular movement, which 
brought him back again to the presence of the corpse of 
his victim. Then he was secured." 
Here is a report of the case : 

"DARING MURDER ON THE HIGHWAY IN ESSEX APPREHEN- 
SION OF THE MURDERER. 

A most appalling murder was committed on Tuesday morn- 
ing, on the turnpike road between Loudon and Romford. The 
unfortunate victim was a very respectable and worthy man, 
named Toller, a commission agent, who resided with his wife 
and four children on Chadwell Heath, near Komford, for several 
years. Mr. Toller was in the practice of visiting London almost 
daily on business. He left his home on Tuesday morning at 
eight o'clock, with the intention, it is believed, of walking to 
Ilford, and taking the train for London. About fifteen or 
twenty minutes before nine o'clock, he was met on the high 
road by an ill-looking tramp, whose intention, no doubt, was to 
rob the unfortunate man. The fellow struck Mr. Toller a vio- 
lent blow on the head with a stick, which caused him to stagger. 
Mr. Toller called out for assistance, and his cries attracted the 
attention of a man and his wife at work in an adjoining field, 
who saw the murderer strike Mr. Toller repeatedly with the 
stick. They called out to the man to desist, and hastened to- 
wards the road ; but, before they could reach the end of the 
field, they saw the ruffian take a clasp knife from his pocket, 
with which he deliberat<^ly cut the throat of his victim, and 
nearly severed his hea'"' I'rom his body. The murderer imme- 
diately fled. The man and his wife in the field were, to use 
their own words, so horrified at the deed they had just wit- 
nessed, that they made no effort to pursue the murderer, who 



228 THE SLAVEIIOLDEPv ABKOAD ; OR, 

made his way towards London. They, however, g-ave irarae- 
diate information to the iirst police constable they met with, 
and soon afterwards Mr. Howie, the superintendent of the K 
division of police, rode into Ilford. and, on being informed of 
the murder, gave directions to a number of mounted and dis- 
mounted police officers to pursue the murderer, who, singularly 
enough, after the commission of the horrible act, lost his way, 
and being unacquainted with the road, made a detour and came 
back to within three hundred yards of the spot where he com- 
mitted the murder. He was immediately pointed out by the 
man Willis, who saw the murder committed, and was at once 
taken into custody by Metcalf, 142 K., who handcutled him, 
and proceeded with him to the station-house at Ilford. A few 
hours afterwards 31r. Howie procured the attendance of ]Mr. 
Octavius Mashiter, a county magistrate, and the prisoner, who 
gave the name of Charles Saunders, was formally arraigned 
before the justice, and charged with the wilful murder of Mr. 
Toller. WiUis and his wife identilied Saunders, and detailed 
the circumstances of the murder. Metcalf also gave evidence 
of the prisoner's apprehension, and Mr. ]Mashiter remanded 
him to Ilford gaol until Saturday (yesterday). 

It appears from inquiries made by Mr. Superintendent Howie 
that Saunders is a native of Mortlake, in Surrey, where he is 
well known. He is a heavy-looking, repulsive fellow, about 32 
years of age, and 5 feet 4 inches hi height. The deceased 
would have proved more than a match for him if he had not 
first struck him with a stick on the back of the head. 

The scene of this tragical occurrence is 8^ miles from White- 
chapel Church, and 3 miles from Komford." — Obaerver, Feb. 
Uth, 1853. 

Revolve in your mind for a moment the awful brutality 
of this bloody scene, and you will readily agree with the 
following remarks, made by the editor of the '• Observer," 
(and in the same paper fi'om whicli I have taken the above 
account,) viz.: 

" That it is a remarkable fact that in a country so highly 
civihzed as England, with a police and with a priesthood which 
costs an enormous annual sum to maintain, such a crime could 
not only be conceived but committed, within hail of at least 
two workingmen, in the full hght of day, and upon the high- 
way of perhaps the most populous road leading into or out of 
this metropolis. The culprit it seems made a sort of eonfes- 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 229 

sioii that lie murdered his victim not througii tlie cravinj^s of 
want, but with tiie object of* revenge — to avenge himself for 
Bome real or fancied wrong on a former occasion long past — a 
wrong, even on his own admission, of the slightest character. 
How little this speaks for the Gospel teaching of the State 
Church, with its cloud of parsons and its bands of missionaries, 
the reader must and will easily imagine. No doubt crime has 
existed, and it is possible that crime will continue to exist, 
though wise and good men hold to the contrary ; but hitherto 
it has been associated with motives of cupidity on such occa- 
sions as this, and the introduction of the principle of vengeance 
is a new feature in the common criminal annals of this country. 
It cannot be questioned, however, that if the Church spent its 
revenues, not upon the shepherds, but upon the flock — if, in a 
word, education was made general — such a scene of barbarity 
as that which took place on this occasion would never have 
been committed." 

On one point, however, I must take issue with this 
writer. I refer to his assertion that '' the principle of 
vengeance is a new feature in the common criminal annals 
of this country." I think what I have shown, and have 
yet to show you, will prove this declaration to be a pro- 
digious error. 

In the same paper from which I have taken the last 
report, I find the following account of a terrible murder 
in Devonshire : 



"DREADFUL MURDER IN DEVONSHIRE CONFESSION OF THE 

MURDERER. 

On Sunday morning a shocking murder was committed near 
a little village called Clayhidon, about ten miles from Honiton, 
in Devonshire, and about five miles from Wellington, in Somer- 
set. The vi-ctim was a respectable land surveyor and miller, 
residing at Clayhidon Mills, named William Biackmore. He 
was also the collector of taxes for the parish, and was much 
esteemed in the neighborhood. He was 53 years of age, was 
married, and had one grown-up son. He had been out col- 
lecting tithes on Saturday, and in the evening he went into a 
roadside [)ublic house, called the White Horse, near Clayhidon, 
where he drank freely in company with three laboring men. 
They all left the public house together about one o'clock on 
20 



230 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OK, 

Sunday iiionnng', and at four oVlock the body of Mr. Black- 
more was found about a quarter of a mile from his own house 
by his son and a servant man, stretched across the road in a 
dreadfully mangled state. The head was severely fractured, 
and there was blood scattered about the road. Ilis purse, 
containing two live-pound notes, was found in the road by his 
side. The three men who left the house with the deceased 
were laborers, named George Sparks, Edmund Sparks, and 
James Hitchcock. They were taken into custody. 

An inquest was held on Monday, at the Half Moon Inn, 
Clayhidon. before 11. H. Aberdein, Esq., coroner for the district. 

Ann Redwood, the landlady of the White Horse public 
house, stated that between seven and eight o'clock on Satur- 
day evening, the deceased came into her house, and called for 
a pint of beer. The thre.e prisoners and two other men were 
there ; but the latter two left shortly afterwards. The deceased 
sat by the lire, and complained that he had been drinking some 
ale at farmer Warren's, and it had upset his stomach. He then 
drank three pints of Mrs. Redwood's ale, and said it was much 
better than farmer W-^arren's. The three prisoners asked the 
deceased to treat them, and he did contribute towards a quart 
of cider, saying he had only half a crown in the world. (In 
the pockets of deceased two five-pound notes were found, and 
it was known that he had other money, the produce of his tithe 
collection). Subsequently the deceased played at cards with 
George Sparks, and beat him. After that the prisoners and 
the deceased drank several quarts of ale, with brandy and sugar 
in it. When the deceased said ' he had only half-a-crown in 
the world,' James Hitchcock said, ' You needn't be afeard of us, 
raaister — I won't rob he.' George Sparks said, 'Master isn't 
afeard of us, I know.' The deceased answered, * No, be gums 1' 
Just before leaving the house, James Hitchcock and George 
Sparks went out of the room ; and after staying a few minutes 
returned again. About one o'clock on the Sunday morning, 
they all left together. 

J. Marks, a laborer, deposed to having met the three pri- 
soners and the deceased between one and two o'clock on the 
Sunday morning in the road leading to their house — the pri- 
soners lived in the same direction as the deceased. After a 
salutation they passed on. Edmund Sparks was walking by 
the side of the deceased, and George Sparks and James Hitch- 
cock were walking behind. 

George Braddick, a constable, apprehended the prisoners 
the same morning, just before daylight George Sparks lodged 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 231 

with liis brother, about half a mile from the deceased's resi- 
dence ; and when he went to him he was in bed. lie denied 
any knowl(;<lge of the crime at first. Tlie witness then re- 
quested him to put on the same clothes as he wore that morn- 
ing, and he did so. On the waistcoat were spots of blood. On 
searchiiit^ the house ten sovereigns and a half were found 
wra[>}ied up in a rag. Whilst the witness was engaged in 
searching the house, several people came in and put sundry 
questions to the })risoner. At last he exclaimed, ' It's no use 
to care, nor to think any more about it; for 1 would as soon 
tell the whole of it as not.' The prisoner then got up from 
his seat, took up a pair of tongs, and showing the position in 
which he stood, said, * I struck him back-handed, and 1 think 
I killed him the first blow, but I struck him twice after that.' 
He further said he struck him with a part of a pair of hre- 
tongs which he brought away with him from the White Horse, 
and which was subsequently found in the water at the spot in- 
dicated by the prisoner. 

The prisoner, George Sparks, fully exonerated the other pri- 
soners in his confession ; and they severally declared that they 
left the deceased by a French nut-tree, and went to their homes. 
The only suspicious circumstances in respect to Hitchcock 
were, that on his great-coat, which he wore, there were spots 
like blood ; but there was difference of opinion as to whether 
it really was blood. Footmarks, corresponding with his boots, 
were also discovered near to where the body was found. There 
was no evidence against Edmund Sparks, further than his 
being in the company of the others at the public house, and 
being seen with them on his road home. 

Mr. William IJuncombe, surgeon, described the nature of 
the injuries inflicted on the head of the deceased. In his. 
opinion the injuries were such as were likely to have been 
produced by the instrument alluded to, viz. : the part of the 
tongs which George Sparks confessed to have taken from the 
White Horse. 

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against George 
Sparks and James Hitchcock, and they w^ere at once committed 
for trial." — Obaeruer, February lil/i, 1853. 

You have, in this case, an exemplification not only of 
that thirst for blood so remarkable in this country, but 
specimens and illustrations of manners, language, and 
civilization in no wise superior to what is met with in 



OQO 



THE SLAVMllOl.lti'K ABROAD; Oil, 



wild and laAvloss frontier regions. And all tins, you will 
observe, occurs in one of the most liiglily favored coun- 
ties of Eno-land — in " ricli and fruitful Devonshire." 

About the same time, an atrocious murder of a woman 
by a man was committed at AVakefield, in Yorkshire. 
Here is a statement of the particulars : 

"ATROCIOITS MURDER AT WAKEFIELD. 

A murder has been committed at AYakefield. The perpe- 
trator of the crime was speedily apprehended, and unhesita- 
tino-ly confessed his gniU. The victim of the foul deed is a 
girl named Catherine Sheardon, a dissolute person, living in 
the house of Ann Olough, generally known as 'Farmer Ann,' 
and the murderer is a man named Henry Pobson, a cabinet- 
maker, about 24 years of age. For a considerable time past 
Pobson has cohabited with the deceased, whom he has latterly 
treated very ill. Deceased applied to the magistrates for pro- 
tection, and on the 10th inst. he was bound over to keep the 
peace. Exasperated by this, lie had been lieard several times 
to threaten deceased with nuu'der, and on I'hursday night he 
was observed by some of Sheardou's companions to be anx- 
iously watching for her. They being alarmed kept Sheardon 
in their company. On Friday night, however, soon after 11 
o'clock, he managed to obtain admission into deceased's room, 
during the temporary absence of Clough, the occupier of the 
house, and. on dough's return, she found the unfortunate girl 
lying on the tloor of the room in the basement of the building, 
quite dead and weltering in blood. A razor covered with 
blood was found on the floor, and in one of deceased's hands 
was the street-door key. On her right arm was the mark of a 
violent blow, but on no other part of her person was there any 
evidence of violence having been used towards her. It is sup- 
posed, from the position in wliieh the body was lying, that the 
murderer had knocked at the door and been admitted by the 
deceased without her knowing it was him. for she had kept the 
door locked for the purpose of preventing his admission. The 
tragedy must have taken place within a very short time, as 
Clough asserts she was not absent from her house more than 
twenty minutes. AVithin an hour Dobson was apprehended in 
Jacob's Well-lane, about a quarter of a mile from the scene 
of the murder. His left hand was covered with blood, and a 
Blight cut of about an inch iu diameter was discovered on the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 233 

Becond joint of his thumb, evidoritly made by some extremely 
sharp instrument. On the rif(ht side of his coat were mariis 
of l>lood ; and these circumstances corroborated the supposi- 
tion that the prisoner had his arm round deceased's neck when 
he inflicted the wound on her, and it is believed the same struck 
his own hand. The marks on the rif^ht side of the coat are 
accounted for by his hand falling after his jnirpose was accorn- 
plisiied. ]lLs apron also bore marks of blood. The prisoner, 
while on the way to the station-house, asked repeatedly if the 
girl was dead, and, on being told she wa^, replied, 'And I have 
it — what more do you want ?' lie further added, ' You are a 
pretty set of devils, you police ; 1 have been within twenty 
yards of the place all the time.' lie also stated that he had 
kicked deceased violently. Prisoner was much excited, and 
appeared to have been drinking ; he was not, however, drunk, 
lie appeared to have no idea of the awful position in which he 
had placed himself, and passed his time in his cell in singing, 
&c. The girl was about twenty years of age, and, we hear, 
was a native of Doncaster. She was small in stature even for 
a woman, and extremely tliin. She was principally known to 
the police under the soubriquet of ' Kitty.' The deceased had 
been drinking with the prisoner often since she had him bound 
over to keep the peace towards her, but slie had not lived with 
him for some short time. Dobson is the son of Thomas Dob- 
son, landlord of the Coach and Horses Beer House, Union 
street, lie was by trade a cabinet-maker. He is slightly 
built, about five feet five inches in height, and his face is much 
marked with the small-pox. He was a man of vicious propen- 
sities, and had been married to a girl of the town, who died 
al>out six months since. An inquest on the body of the mur- 
dered girl has been held, at which a verdict of ' wilful murder ' 
against Henry Dobson was returned. The prisoner's demeanor 
continues hardened and careless. Two oflicers have been in 
the cell with him ever since his arrest, and during the night it 
ap})ears he kept up, when awake, a continued conversation in 
reference to the bloody deed. After awaking from one of his 
sleeps he said, in reference to the bench or form upon which 
he was laid, * This is a very hard bed ! if Kitty' (meaning the 

deceased) ' has not a softer, she will be d badly off.' And 

in a few minutes he said, in an affectionate tone, 'Ah, bless 
her; 1 hope she is now in heaven and happy.' At another 
time he said, with much bravado, 'Well, 1 know my fate, and 
I suppose I have not above another fortnight to live.'" — 
News of the World, Feb. 27, 1853. 

20* 



234 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

This man was subsequently tried, convicted, and lianged 
at York for this offence. 

But I must allow you a breathing-spell, or you will 
never be able to go through the ghastly gallery which we 
have yet to traverse, and to inspect. So I write myself 

at once, 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, G-a., U. S. of ximerica. 



LETTER XXV. 

ILL-TREATMENT AND MURDER OF WIVES — SUSPECTED MURDER 

OF A WIFE BY STARVATION THE BATH STARVATION CASE 

MURDER OF A WIFE IN MARYLEBONE — THE FROCEEDINGS 

BEFORE THE COMIMITTING MAGISTRATE ARE ATTENDED BY 
DR. JONES AND HIS SERVANT A WITNESS WHO KNEW NO- 
THING OF GOD, AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE DEVIL 

BUCK PROPOSES TO SEND A MISSIONARY TO THIS WITNESS* 

NEIGHBORHOOD TRIAL OF THE MURDERER BEFORE THE 

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. 

London, December 1st, 1853. 

Dear Major : — As early as the year 1851, my atten- 
tion was called by the paper which I daily read, to the 
great prevalence of violence on the part of men towards 
women in this country, and especially to the number of 
murders committed by husbands upon wives. I furnish 
you with an extract of the editorial article to which I have 
referred. It contains, as you will see, a condensed state- 
ment of several cases which had then recently occurred : 

''ILL-TREATMENT AND MURDER OF WIVES. 

In his recent charge to the grand jury at the opening of the 
Central Criminal Court, the Recorder said — 'He was sorry 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 235 

that he could not congratulate them on the lightness of the 
calendar ; for, althougli it did not contain any charge of mur- 
der, yet he was sorry to see that there were several charges 
of manslaughter, and also a great numl)er of cases of personal 
violence ; and it was very much to be regretted that, in a 
great majority of the cases, the violence was committed by 
men upon the persons of those whom they were bound to love 
and protect — namely, upon their wives.' It is well that Mr. 

Wortley should have said thus much — little though it was 

on this disgraceful subject ; and it is to be hoped that the feel- 
ings which dictated his brief remarks will still be in operation 
when, in the course of the next few days, it may become his 
duty to pass sentence on cases of this description. But he 
need not have confined his observation to the present sessions ; 
for every sessions, every assizes, afford proof of the lamentable 
prevalence of this class of crimes, and of the impunity, or next 
to impunity, with which tliey are passed by. Within 'these few 
days we have recorded, almost simultaneously, four cases of 
men tried, or committed for trial, on the cliarge of killing their 
wives ; and among these the case of Edmund Curtis stood con- 
spicuous, both in atrocity and in the flagrant inadequacy of 
the punishment. The wife, an industrious woman, had passed 
the day in working as a charwoman, to earn money for the hus- 
band. In the evening, according to the testimony of the woman 
for wliom she worked, he came to the house, and the wife 
' spoke to him, desiring him to come home. Pie refused. She 
said his place was at home, and he said, ' So is yours.' They 
then both left the room. He was sober. After they left the 
house — about three minutes after — I heard a violent shriek. 
I went out, and saw her lying across a low iron railing in my 
garden. He had hold of her over the left shoulder with his 
right hand, and was striking her on the head with his clenched 
fist. When I got out the shriek had ceased, I heard no noise 
after. I told him he would kill her, if he had not done so, 
and desired him to loose her. He did not do so. I called out 
William Kirkland, who pulled him from her, and she fell on 
her left side on the ground, apparently lifeless. I told him he 
had killed her. I called assistance. She was lifted up and 
put in a chair. She fetched three sighs and died.' Ihcse 
were the facts; and now for Mr, Baron Martin and his jud"-- 
ment. He said that nothing could justify a man in striking a 
woman; that the prisoner 'indulged in a very violent degree 
of passion,' but that he could 'well believe' that he 'did not 
mean to kill her ;' that 'no doubt, when this result occurred,' 



236 TTTK ST.AVKiIOLDER Ar.lUWP; OK, 

he was * siucovely sorry for it ;' aiul tluit. 'ooiisidorinii; all the 
eiroumstaneos,' tho 'justice oi' the ease' would be satistied by 
imprisouiug" liiiu t*or six uiouths with hard hibor ! Sueh are 
the judsi'uieuts whieh are to proteet all the wouieu of the eouu- 
try aii'aiust douiestie ruthanisui ; and sueh is the eapriee whieli 
presides over the apporiionment of penalties in Eug'lish criminal 
justice. The day afterwarils, in a ease not more atrocious, the 
culprit was sentenced by the same judii'c to transportation for 
lite. If funis had killed, in any similar manner, some other 
man's wife instead of his own — instead of the woman whom, 
as Mr. Wortley said, he was bound to protect — there can be 
little doubt that he would have been indicted for murder, and 
probablv hauii'ed. The vow to protect thus confers a license 
to kill. ' 

Two oi' the eases adverted to in the Recorder's charge have 
since come on for trial before Mr. Justice Wig-htman. In one, 
the prisoner was acquitted on the ground of insanity. Jn the 
ease of Andrew Maclean, also, the culprit was acquitted. The 
report says, ' Early iu the morning of August 4, the persons 
lodging in the next room were disturbed by the cries of the 
prisoner's children, and their calling ont, ' Oh, father, let mother 
doAvn.' They got up iu consequence, and went into the pri- 
soner's room, where they found his wife hanging by the neck 
from the cupboard, and the prisoner was sitting npon the bed. 
The body of the unfortunate woman was quite suspended, and 
she was nearly black in the face. U}>on the prisoner being 
tohi that he was a good-for-nothing villain for attempting to 
hang his wile, he replied that he would do it elfectually the 
next time ; and one of the witnesses answered that he would 
have done it etfectually this time, if his wife had not been cut 
down. The prisoner was slightly intoxicated, it appeared, at 
the time of the occurrence. The prisoner, in his defence, as- 
serted that his wite had hanged herself,' 

The wit'e was not called as a witness, the reason of which 
appears from the previous examination before the magistrate 
— on which occasion the unfortunate creature, either from 
habitual fear, or from the expectation that she would be given 
back into his power, exculpated the man, stating that she had 
spoken provokiugly to him. and also that he had hanged her 
only in jest, ller dread of appearing against him was not sur- 
prising : for what would have been the consequence to her of 
having given strong evidence against him. in the event of his 
acquittal ? But her testimony was not needed to sliow the 
state of the case, after proof of such facts as those contained 



JilLf// Hr(:ii'ii VISIT TO KNOLAND. 237 

in the above axinicL Yet ' Mr. .iu-,tico Wi^'hlmari, in 8ijrn- 
rnirij^ up, said that the case was uridoubtedJy left in Kome ob- 
Bcurity by the abscnee of the wife'H testimony. If she had 
})('j'.n (.-ailed, she eouid have provt^d distinetly hosv the matter 
occurred ; and in the fji^:e of the prisoner'n declaration that 
iiis wife had hun^ herself, it was for the jury to say whether 
the other evidence wan suflicient to justify them in convicting 
iiim of so serious an offence,' On this encouragment the jury 
returned a verdict of not guilty ; and consequently the woman 
is a^ain jriven into the f)0\ver of the man, that he may, as he 
threatened, 'do it effectually the iHjxt time.' We scarc(;ly be- 
lieve that there is an ofifence in the whole criminal code of 
which a prisoner would have been acquitted, in the face of such 
evidence, except that of an attempt at wife muj'der. 

In default of the judges, it is for the Lej!:i8lature to apply 
vigorous measures of refjression to this growing evil." — Oh- 
aercer, Septeniber ist, 1851. 

I think you will dificover from the exhibits which I 
ehall make before leaving the Bubjeet, that this diBease is 
too deeply Heated in the eonatitution of the Englinh people, 
to be remedied by those ^' vigorous measures of repression 
by the legislature" to which this writer referred. 

In the early part of the same year, some cases of wife- 
murder from starvation, enforced by their husbands, were 
reported. Can you by p>ossibility conceive such a devilish 
fact? Below you will find in a succinct form some refe- 
rences to Hucli canes : 

"SUSPECTED MURDER OF A WIFE. 

GloufjiHlHr, TJiurHflay. — A man named Dan'el Mundy has 
been brought to the Gloucester county jail, under the warrant 
of W. J. Ellis, Ksq., coroner for the county, on a cliarge of 
the wilful murder of his wife. The deceased and the prisoner 
lived at Wotton-under-edge, in this county, and the former had 
for some time past been in a delicate state of health. Jler 
husband had been in the habit of cruelly beating and kicking 
her, and keeping her on a miserably short allowance of food, 
arid while he himself lived well; bread and water was the poor 
woman's principal diet. The deceased died on the 24th of 
February last, rather suddenly, and an inquest was held on the 
body, as a matter of form, on the 28th, when no suspicion of 
foul conduct being entertained, a verdict of ' died from natural 



23S THE SLxWElLOLDEK ABROAD; OR; 

causes' was retnvnod. The prisoner refused to bury her, and 
that cireumstanco, tog'cther with the ruiiiors which now began 
to spread through the neighborhood respecting his cruel con- 
duct towards lier during her lifetime, led to further inquiries, 
which resulted in the re-opening of the inquest. At the last 
inquiry several of the neighbors were examined. Some deposed 
that the prisoner beat his wife ' in common with other hus- 
bands;' but the niece of the deceased proved that Mrs. Mundy 
had complained to her of her husband's cruelty, and had shown 
her her arms and legs, which were black and blue with bruises. 
She also told her tliat she was nearly starved, having nothing 
to eat but coarse brown bread, without anything with it. 
Daniel Workman, another of Mundy's neighbors, spoke to the 
fact of the prisoner having beaten his wife with a stick. On 
the day of her decease this witness saw Mrs. Mundy near her 
own house, in a stooping position, with her hands on her 
bowels, and on asking her what was the matter, she said it 
was where he kicked her — meaning her husband. Jane Dyer, 
who laid out the body, found bruises on the neck and bowels. 
Mr. Adams, surgeon, also deposed that he found an injury of 
the neck, attended with congestion of the brain of very recent 
date. Also an extensive injury of the abdomen, as if from a 
blow or kick, either of which was sufficient to cause death. 
The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of 
wilful murder against the husband." 

"the bath starvation case. 

The husband of Harriet Sparing, who died from starvation 
at Bath, has been apprehended and lodged in the Bath jail, to 
await his trial at the ensuing assizes on the charge of wilful 
murder. The prisoner, on hearing that an inquest was to be 
held on his wife, absconded, and succeeded for some time in 
evading the vigilance of the police. It appears that he went 
to Bristol, and for some days lodged with Mr. Bence, a publi- 
can, under the name of Edward Woodman, but was very re- 
served, and kept himself remarkably quiet. He then enlisted 
in the thirtieth Regiment of the line, and on Wednesday was 
sent off to Kent, with other recruits. Mr. Bence having sub- 
sequently seen a description of Sparing in the Hue and Cry, 
suspected his late lodger to be the man, and immediately gave 
informalion to the chief of the Bath police. An officer, ac- 
companied by Mr. Bence, was despatched in search of the pri- 
soner, whom they found enjoying his dinner in Walmer Bar- 
racks Kent, but on seeing the officer he became much frightened 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 239 

and trembled violently. He was at once brought back, and 
lodged in the Bath jail, under the coroner's warrant." — Ob- 
server, March 17^/i, 1851. 

I perceive that in the first of the two cases above men- 
tioned, personal violence was resorted to, and might have 
been in part the cause of death. Do you not feel it a mor- 
tification, that you should belong to a common humanity 
with the atrocious scoundrel who could so treat that help- 
less and forlorn sufferer ? And are you not thankful that 
you are not the countryman of the cowardly miscreant ? 
Observe, if you please, the matter-of-fact way with which 
the witnesses deposed that the prisoner beat his wife only 
''in common with other husbands!" It was truly not 
without reason that the editor whom I have quoted above, 
declared that in this country '' the vow to protect confers 
a license to kill." 

On Tuesday, the 11th day of November, 1851, I left 
my lodgings for the purpose of visiting the Eoyal Botanic 
Gardens, in the Regent's Park, taking my servant along 
with me. As we were passing in the vicinity of the Mary- 
lebone police-station , our attention was drawn to a vehicle 
in which a prisoner was being placed, and which was sur- 
rounded by a noisy crowd of men, women, and children. 
We soon learned that the accused was charged with hav- 
ing murdered his wife, and was about to be taken before 
a magistrate for examination ; and that the excitement 
which we observed grew out of the strong indignation 
which the circumstances of his case created. The mob 
were uttering terrible denunciations of the prisoner, and 
their fury rather surprised me (knowing, as I now did, 
how common wife-murder was in the country, and how 
much tolerated), and I could only attribute this result to 
the stimulus which was imparted by the circulation of 
petticoats among them pretty freely, whose owners were 
very ardent in their cries for vengeance. Lynch law was 
also threatened ; but there seemed to be no spirit present 
daring enough to take the lead in a demonstration of that 
kind, and the police took very proper measures for the 
prevention of any such attempt. We joined ourselves to 
the crowd which accompanied the cab in which the pri- 



240 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

soner was placed, as I was anxious to see the end of the 
affair, and to hear more of the circumstances. With 
some difficulty, we obtained a position in the court from 
which we could witness the proceedings. 

I send you a report of the case, taken from a news- 
paper, published shortly after. 

''murder in marylebone. 

On Tuesday, Thomas Bare, of 33 North street, Manchester 
square, aged fifty, a pipemaker, was charged before Mr. 
Broughton with the wilful murder of his wife, Louisa Bare. 
The circumstances detailed exhibited features of peculiar 
atrocity, the deceased having received sixteen stabs in different 
parts of her body with a sharp-pointed file. At an early hour 
in the morning the rumor of the event caused crowds to col- 
lect around the Marylebone station house, where the prisoner 
was confined, and the numbers increased to such an extent that 
several constables were required to keep the thoroughfare clear. 
In consequence of the extraordinary excitement prevailing, the 
prisoner was conveyed in a cab, in which were Inspector Jack- 
son, and two other officers. Whilst getting into the vehicle he 
was hissed and yelled at by the mob, and the utmost efforts of 
the police were necessary to protect him from summary ven- 
geance. Hundreds followed the cab to the court, vociferating 
that 'there was a murderer in it,' and, on arriving at the court, 
to avoid the effects of the indignant feeling, the prisoner was 
hurried through the passage, and closely watched by two 
officers, prior to the case being called on. At two o'clock he 
took his stand in the felon's dock, the court being then crowded 
to excess. He is of sallow complexion, and was dressed in a 
black coat, waistcoat, and drab trowsers. He betrayed no 
emotion, and stood erect while the charge was stated to him 
by the magistrate. The first witness called was — 

George Nott, a furnishing undertaker, of No. 23 Cornwall 
road, Lambeth. He said : Deceased was my sister. She mar- 
ried the prisoner about twelve or fifteen years ago. They have 
two children living. The deceased frequently complained to 
me of her husband's ill-treatment. I last saw her alive about 
a month ago, in Warner street, Clerkenwell, where she then 
lived. Between ten and eleven o'clock yesterday morning, 
Inspector Jackson sent for me, and I went to her room in 33 
North street, where I found her dead, lying upon the floor. 
She had several punctures in the face, from some very sharp 
instrument. She was about forty years old. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 241 

Mr. Broughton (to the prisoner) : Do you wish to put ques- 
tions to this witness ? — Prisoner: No, I don't seem to care 
much about it, but I'll ask you this, did she ever complain to 
you in my presence of any ill-usage on my part ? Witness : 
No, but she has often complained to me in your absence, and 
has said that you were addicted to drinking and neglecting 
your home. — Mr. Broughton : Where are her two children ? 
Witness : I do not know. — Inspector Jackson : One, the 
daughter, is outside. She is, I am sorry to sa}^, upon the 
streets. — Prisoner to witness : How long is it since your sister 
first complained of my bad behavior ? Witness : Ever since 
I have known you in London. The last time I saw her she 
said you were never at home till one or two in the morning. 
— Prisoner : And a good reason why. I generally worked till 
that time. Do you know Mr. Thompson, a gasfitter; and did 
you bury his wife ? Witness : Yes ; about twelve months ago. 
— Prisoner : How came you to do that ? Witness : I was re- 
commended to the job by my sister. — Prisoner : I do not wish 
to ask you any more questions. 

Edward Braston, aged seventeen, deposed that he lived with 
his parents in Brook's-gardens, Bagnigge Wells road. 

The magistrate questioned him as to his knowledge of the 
nature and obligation of an oath, and the replies which he 
gave evinced a most lamentable degree of ignorance. He 
knew not where God was, could not tell where people went to 
when they died, if they had lived a wicked life, nor had he ever 
heard of the devil. 

Mr. Broughton expressed pain and astonishment at the 
neglect of this boy's education, and said that his evidence 
could not be taken. 

Mrs. Sarah Abrahams, mother of the lad above mentioned, 
said : I am a widow, and the lad is my son by a former hus- 
band. A woman named Hands and another woman lodged 
four nights at my place, and both left on Friday fortnight. 
My son carried some boxes away. On Monday last, the pri- 
soner at the bar came to me, and asked if I had a little woman 
lodging up stairs ? He could not tell her name, but said his 
wife was with her. I said, 'Yes, there were two.' He ex- 
claimed, ' Then that's my wife, and the boxes are mine ; she 
took them away from me, and they are up stairs in your room.* 
He asked to go up stairs to see them, but I said he could not, 
as Mrs. Hands had gone off with all the things on Friday night. 
The prisoner then went away, and soon after returned with a 
woman, who said that the prisoner's wife had behaved very ill 
21 Q 



242 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

to him, and that there was something wrong between the wife 
and a gasfitter. The prisoner then said, ' Yoi> must know 
where they are gone to ' I replied that I did not ; but lie per- 
sisted in coming every other day afterwards up to last Satur- 
day night, pressing me to tell where his wife was, and he said 
that he was afraid his wife would come to a bad way, as liis 
daughter had ; and rather than see her in the same ' emaciated' 
state as his daughter, he would die in Newgate, for ' he loved 
her after all.' This was on Saturday. I then said tliat I was 
going to send my son to the place where he left the boxes for 
the door-key, which Mrs. Hands had taken away, and that he 
might accompany him. lie said he was much obliged, and 
would pay my son for his trouble, and they went away together. 
This was at twenty minutes past six. 

Prisoner : Did you ever see Mrs. Hands and my wife drink 
together ? — Witness ; No. 

Prisoner : At what time did they generally come home ? — 
Witness : I never knew them to stop out late. 

George Lanning, landlord of No. 33 North street, where 
the deceased had lodged, said : That at half-past seven on 
Saturday night last, a lad called on him and asked for the two 
females for whom he had brought the boxes a fortnight before. 
They were not then at home, and the boy left. At eight 
o'clock the prisoner came and asked was Mrs. Bare there ? 
Not knowing her by that name I said that she did not lodge 
there, and in telling the names of my lodgers I mentioned that 
of ' Miss Nott,' and he said, ' That's she ; that's my wife ; that 
was her maiden name.' He was very violent, and threatened 
to break open the door unless I gave up the boxes. I said 
that would not be a legal proceeding, and asked him to sit 
down in the parlor, which he did. I said that Miss Nott (his 
wife) would be sure to be in by nine o'clock, as she was so 
very regular. After conversing for an hour and a half she 
came in, and walked through the passage, and I said, * That's 
the good lady you came for.' The door being open he could 
see her as she passed, and I gave him a candle and he followed 
her up stairs. I left the boy in the parlor, and went to seek a 
policeman to guard against any disturbance. In half an hour 
I returned, and found the deceased lying on the floor, upon 
which was a great quantity of blood. My wife was bathing 
her face with water. A box lay on the pavement outside, and 
I took it into the house. The policeman ran for a medical 
man, who speedily arrived. 

Prisoner : Did not I tell you what sort of characters you 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLA*ND. 243 

had jrot in your lioiise ? — WitnosH : You said that I had two 
bad cliara(;tcrs, no better than common pro.stitutCK, who were 
able to deceive any one, and that your wife had repeatedly 
robbed you in your business, and absconded with youi' pro- 
perty. ^J'he deceased was a well-conducted woman, and both 
she and Mrs. Hands, the deceased's fellow-lodger, I believed 
to be serious and religious women. You told me several times 
that your wife had sold up your home, taking the property 
with her. 

Prisoner : You, sir, seem to be very warm on the subject. 
I have no more questions to ask you. 

Mrs. Hands, deceased's fellow-lodger, was called, but was so 
affected by the awful occurrence, that she was unable to undergo 
examination. 

Reljecca Lanning, the landlady, said that when the two 
women came to lodge at her house, one represented herself as 
a single woman, and tlie other as a widow. They took the 
apartments ou Friday fortnight, when the boy brought the 
boxes the^re. On last Saturday the boy called to inquire for 
them, when they were not at home, and the prisoner afterwards 
came. He was much excited, and very noisy. She told him 
to be quiet, as there were other lodgers in the house, and he, 
at her request, went into the parlor. After his wife came, the 
prisoner went up stairs, and I heard some loud talking. The 
prisoner called up the boy, who was in the parlor. The boy 
went up, and immediately I heard the poor woman screech 
most awfully, and cry out, 'Oh ! you're murdering me;' the 
boy came down first with one box, and then with the other. 
The screeching lasted about three minutes. The prisoner came 
down after the boy, and tried to open the front door, but could 
not, and 1 opened it for him. 1 saw blood on the back of his 
hand. While he was in the room I heard a noise like the 
throwing down of a chair. After he left, the 'screeching' 
ceased, and I ran up stairs into the room and found a chair 
lying across the fender. The deceased was lying upon it, with 
her hand up to her face. She could not speak. Her bonnet 
and cap were off, and her hair, which was hanging over her 
neck, was smeared with blood. She breathed ; but when the 
doctor arrived shortly afterwards, she was dead. I saw a 
great deal of blood upon her, and in the apartment. 

Other lodgers gave evidence corroborative of the preced- 
ing, and one of tliem said she saw the prisoner beating his 
wife, and begged of him, for God's sake, to desist from ill- 
treating her. The boy was in the room while he (prisoner) 



244 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

was attacking the poor creature who had fallen a victim to his 
violence. 

It was further proved that the prisoner was apprehended at 
the Bedford Arms, South street, near North street, where he 
had a glass of gin at the bar. He was the worse for liquor, 
but not drunk. He was conveyed to the station by Gott, 338 
D, and on the way thither he said that his wife had taken a 
chisel or something of that sort to strike him with, and that 
he snatched it from her hand, and 'gave her the contents.^ 
His right hand was covered with blood, and upon his chin 
were also spots, as if blood had spurted out upon it. He in- 
quired frequently how his wife was, and on being told that she 
was dead, he exclaimed, ' Christ Almighty ! who'd have thought 
I'd the heart to do it ? I have a daughter on the town, and a 
little boy in bed at a beer-shop. He little thinks that I have 
killed his mother, and I wish I was going to be hung this very 
moment.' 

Church, 129 D, produced a triangular saw file about six 
inches long, very sharp at each end, and it appeared to have 
been recently ground and pointed. There were on it marks of 
blood. The implement was found between the bars of the 
grate, and the handle was broken in two, and picked up in dif- 
ferent parts of the room. The portions of the handle had 
also blood on them. 

Mr. Dickenson, surgeon, 15 Charles street, Manchester square, 
deposed that he was called in, and found the furniture and 
other things in the room in great disorder. The woman was 
lying upon the floor, to all appearances dead, and blood was 
flowing from various wounds. Witness described the wounds, 
which were sixteen in number, and they had been inflicted upon 
various parts of her person. One of them was on the left side 
of the chest, over the second rib, which was fractured about an 
inch and a half from the breast-bone ; and on tracing that 
wound, upon making a post mortem examination, he found 
that it had penetrated two important blood-vessels to the cover- 
ing of the heart. The wound alluded to was of itself sufficient 
to Cause death. The wounds were all of a triangular shape, 
and the file produced was just the kind of instrument with 
which the fatal injury might have been inflicted. 

The prisoner, when asked had he anything to say I replied, 
'Nothing.' He was then removed, and conveyed to the House 
of Detention. The proceedings did not terminate till six 
o'clock." — Observer, November Vlth. 1851. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 245 

When the case had terminated, and we had left the 
room, I said to my servant, " Buck, what do you think 
of that Bagnigge Wells lad who was called as a Avitness, 
and who, though seventeen years old, knew nothing of 
God, and had never heard of the devil ?" '^ 

Buck. ^' I was never so 'stonished, Marster, in all my 
born days. Ef I live to git home, I'll git up a surscrip- 
tion 'mong the niggers to send a mishunnary to them poor 
Bag-in-the-wells people — a raal Methodist mishunnary, 
Marster — some o' them shoutin' Bonarges fellers, as Mars 
Joe calls um ; for hit 11 take sich a preacher, Marster, to 
maul the grace o' God into their ignorant souls. None 
o' them nice smooth pairsons, with their frocks on- " 

Myself. '' Gowns, you mean. Buck." 

JBicck. '' Well, pears like hit's pretty much the same 
thing, Marster — leastwise they aint coats and breeches, 
like our preachers wars. But, as I was a say in', Marstep, 
none o' them nice genVmen will do, no way you can fix 
it. They aint gwine to put themselves to no trouble for 
no sich people ; an ef they did, p'raps the people wouldn't 
onderstand 'um.* Ef we could only git Pairson Duncan, 
now, or Mars George Pearce, to come over here, sir, they 
'ud soon larn 'um who God is ; and then they 'ud run the 
devil out of 'um, sartain and sure." 

Myself. " I really do think they need some such in- 
struction, Buck. And I confess myself greatly surprised 
at finding such specimens of a low civilization in the me- 
tropolis of Great Britain." 

Buck. '^ After sich doins as we've jest been hearin 
about, Marster, 'mong these people, I don't know that we 
ought to be sprised that that boy didn't know nothin 
'bout God — but hit raaly do seem sorter strange, sir, 
that he shouldn't know nothin 'bout the devil, don't it ? 
Howbever, they say hit's a wise child that knows hit's 
father, an I spose he aint wise." 

* This was before the present Bishop of London and a few other emi- 
nent ministers of the Church of England — roused to the task, perhaps, 
by the example of one of those Boanerges sort of fellows, as my servant 
styles them, Mr. Spurgeon — had made those efforts which have been 
put forth in the last few years to preach to such people. 

21* 



246 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

I could not but smile at Buck's conceit ; but; notwitli- 
standing liis fun, I found that lie was graver than was 
usual with him. 

" Marster," said he, '*I couldn't help feelin sorry for 
that poor man. He desarves to bo hung, I spose; but I 
couldn't help to do it, nohow." 

Myself. ^' Why what is the reason ? It was surely one 
of the most wicked and revolting murders of which I 
have ever heard any account — the murder of a woman, 
the man's weak, unhappy wife — in such a savage way, 
too !" 

Buck. " Well, maybe hit was, Marster ; maybe hit was. 
I don't say it warn't. But when they told us 'bout what 
he said consarnin that poor little boy in bed in a beer- 
shop, and 'bout his darter, I couldn't help thinking 'bout 
little Billy, an my other chil'n at home, Marster ; an that, 
but for the goodness of G-od, they mought a been as bad 
off as them poor chil'n, sir ; an I sorter growed sorry for 
the man, sir ; though I know very well his wife warn't 
to blame for his misry, and he no business to kill her for 
it. But, poor feller ! I reckon he was so onhappy he 
didn't care much what he done, nor what come of him." 

I saw at once. Major, that the mention of that poor 
*' little boy in bed in a beer-shop " was the '^ touch of Na- 
ture" which had asserted the kindred of that man of 
blood even to my kind-hearted slave, and had enlisted his 
sympathies. The truth is, the whole evidence, and all the 
circumstances of this case, presented a picture as touch- 
ing as it was wicked and shocking — apicture which serves 
as another illustration of the extent to which social pro- 
fligacy prevails among the English people. Group for a 
moment, if you please, in one ^^ night scene," that 
wretched mother, dying under the bloody blows of the 
infuriate father, whilst in the street beneath, their fam- 
ished and outcast daughter wanders in darkness and guilt, 
and hard by, in the hell of a drinking-shop, their infant 
boy sleeps, unconscious of the hell of passions which is 
flaming around him. And when you have done so, you 
will admit that it is difficult to gaze steadily on such a 
scene with clear head and undimmed eyes. 

About the beginning of 1852, this man Bai'e was 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 247 

brought to trial in the Central Criminal Court. Here is 
a condensed account of the trial, taken from the " Ob- 
server " of that date. The heathenish boy, Braston, in 
the interval, had been instructed in the obligations of an 
oath, and you will find his testimony in the record. 

"CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT — THE MURDER IN MARYLEBONE. 

On Thursday, Thomas Bare, aged 43, pipe-maker, was in- 
dicted for the wilful murder of Louisa Bare, his wife. The 
details of the evidence in this case have been ah'eady fully given 
in the Observer, in the reports of the proceedings before the 
police magistrates. He was well dressed, and of respectable 
appearance. He betrayed no emotion. 

Fanny Nott, the mother of the deceased, deposed that her 
daughter had been twenty years married to the prisoner, but 
had for some time lived separate from him. Shortly before 
the murder the prisoner called on witness and asked after his 
little boy, and where his wife lived. Witness refused to tell 
him, and he then said that he would be revenged, and would 
do something to some one, but he did not say to whom. Wit- 
ness, on cross-examination, admitted that this was the first time 
she had made this statement, 

Sarah Abrahams, of 5 Brook's Gardens, Bagnigge-wells, 
repeated the evidence previously given by her. 

Edward Braston, aged 18, the last witness' son, deposed to 
having gone on the day of the murder with the prisoner to No. 
33 North street, Marylebone, where the deceased lodged. They 
did not get there till near seven o'clock in the evening, as the 
prisoner had drink at three houses on the way. The deceased 
was not at home when the prisoner and witness came, but the 
prisoner waited in the parlor, and on the deceased coming home 
and going up stairs, the prisoner followed her, and went into 
her room. Shortly after he called up witness to fetch the 
boxes, and the witness went up, and found the prisoner and 
his wife talking quietly together. The prisoner said to witness, 
'Here, my lad, take this box down stairs.' "Witness did so, 
and as he was leaving the room, he heard the deceased scream- 
ing 'murder,' and the prisoner hitting her three or four times, 
but witness saw no instrument. Witness put the box down in 
the parlor, and went up again to fetch the other box. He met 
the prisoner on the stairs, and he told him to fetch the other 



24.8 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD; OR, 

box down. When witness returned to the room, he found the 
deceased lying by the fire-place. There was blood upon her 
face, but he did not hear her groan or make any sound. He 
then carried down the box, and found the prisoner in the street. 
He told the prisoner to come back, for he had killed his wife. 
He denied it, and said, 'If I have, do you call a policeman.' 
Witness did so, and gave him in charge. The prisoner and 
the deceased appeared to be friendly when the witness first 
entered the room. 

Sarah Beckett, who lodged in the adjoining room, deposed 
that she heard loud quarrelling in the deceased's room, and 
then screams of 'murder.' She rushed out and saw the pri- 
soner and deceased standing by the window fighting. They 
both fell down together, the deceased appearing to be holding 
the prisoner. She did not see the prisoner use any instrument 
but his clenched fist. Not a word was said by either of them 
whilst they were fighting. Witness requested the boy to in- 
terfere, but he said he should not, as ' it served the woman jolly 
well right.' She saw the deceased on the ground, and the 
floor covered with blood. 

The witness Braston said he could not recollect having used 
the above expressions. From the testimony of other witnesses, 
it appeared that the prisoner had suspected and accused his 
wife of infidelity, and of frequenting low public-houses with 
prostitutes. On being taken into custody, and being told that 
his wife was dead, he said, ' Christ Almighty ! who'd have 
thought I had the heart to do it !' It was also proved that, 
previous to the murder, he had purchased a file ; and the sur- 
gical evidence showed that sixteen wounds had been given upon- 
the face, trunk, back, and ribs, one of which had been broken, 
and the pulmonic artery severed, the wounds being triangular, 
as if given with a file. 

Mr. Ballantine, in defence, submitted that it was clear that 
the prisoner's original object was merely to obtain possession 
of the boxes ; and that if he had intended to use violence, a 
file would not have been the instrument purchased for the pur- 
pose, but a knife. The evidence of the lodgers also showed 
that the parties had quarrelled, and that, in the midst of the 
altercation, he said, 'AH I want is my property.' 

Several witnesses deposed to the general humane, quiet, and 
good conduct of the prisoner. 

The judge then summed up, and the jury retired at twenty 
minutes to five o'clock, and at six returned with a verdict of 
guilty of manslaughter. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 249 

Mr. Justice Piatt immediately passed sentence. He said 
that, upon what grounds the jury had rested their verdict, it 
was not for him to inquire. It was their province to decide 
upon the facts ; and, whatever might be the opinion of the 
great majority of the hearers of the evidence in this case, the 
court must act upon the verdict of the jury alone. Under the 
circumstances he should sentence the prisoner to be transported 
for the term of his natural life." 

You perceive that the prisoner was found guilty of 
manslaughter only, to the surprise of the judge and of the 
audience. It will equally surprise you, I do not doubt. 
The verdict was supposed to furnish another instance of 
that toleration of wife-murder to which I have referred. 

I am making this letter too long, and must forthwith 
write myself. 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTER XXVI. 

MURDER OF A WOMAN BY HER HUSBAND IN THE CITY OE 

OXFORD ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WIFE, AND SUICIDE OP 

HUSBAND, AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE HORRIBLE MURDER 

OF A WIFE BY THE HUSBAND IN THE CITY OF LONDON 

EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER, AND REMARKABLE DECLA- 
RATION MADE BY HIM DEATH OF A WIFE FROM BRUTAL 

ILL-TREATMENT BRUTAL MURDER OF A WIFE. 

London, December 3d, 1853. 

Dear Major : — I will send you, in this letter, other 
notices of wife-murders in England. Here, for example, 
is a case occurring in the city of Oxford : 



250 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 



''MUUDER OF A WOMAN BY HER HUSBAND. 

Considerable excitement was manifested at the city of Oxford 
on Monday, in consequence of the death of a woman named Eli- 
zabeth Noon, who had been stabbed in the back with a sword 
by her husband Elijah Noon, on the previous Saturday night. 
An inquest was held on Monday afternoon, when the following 
evidence was adduced : On Saturday evening, the husband, 
who is a plasterer, went to a public house in St. Griles's, called 
the North Star, to receive his wages from his brother, Mr. T. 
Noon, builder, who usually paid his men at this house. In 
consequence of his not coming home at twelve o'clock, his wife 
went to fetch him, and met him on the way, when it appeared 
that she continued to upbraid him for his conduct, until they 
reached their house. On reaching home, the wife told her hus- 
band in the presence of their daughter, thirteen years of age, who 
had been sitting up, that he was a good-for-nothing villain for 
stopping out so late. He made no observation, but appeared 
to be greatly annoyed, although he was tipsy at the time, and 
shortly after he emptied his money out of his purse on the 
table, when his wife told him that he could go out and treat 
other people, but he could not treat her. This put him in a 
passion, but he spoke not a word, and he went to a shelf in 
the room and took off an old sword which was kept there. He 
drew it out of the sheath, which he threw on the floor, and 
then struck his wife across the back with the flat part of the 
sword. The daughter unlocked the door of the sitting-room 
leading into the street, and tried to pull her mother out by her 
right arm, but she would not go, and while she was doing this, 
the father, who held the sword in both hands, ran it into his 
wife's left side, and she fell partly in the street and partly in 
the house. She afterwards got up and went to a neighbor's 
next door but one to her own house, and there she fell again. 
With the assistance of her daughter she returned home, when 
she found her husband putting the sword back on the shelf; 
he afterwards took a seat by the fire, when his wife fell on her 
knees and begged him to take her hands, for she knew vshe 
should die. The husband sent his daughter to get some brandy, 
and on her return she found that her father had carried her 
mother up stairs to bed, and undressed her. A neighbor was 
fetched, and in answer to her inquiry what she was suffering 
from, she pointed out a wound in her side, which she said her 
husband had inflicted with a sword. The husband was pre- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 251 

sent at the time, and did not deny it, but said, ' Ob, dear I' 
and left the room immediately. During the whole of Sunday 
the poor woman was attended by her neighbors, and her hus- 
band came into the room to see her several times. They were 
reconciled to each other, and she told him that she freely for- 
gave him all things, and hoped that the Lord would forgive 
her. She also begged him to avoid passion. 

A post mortem examination was made by Mr. Godfrey and 
Mr. F. Symonds, when it was ascertained tliat the sword had 
passed between the seventh and eighth ribs, through the pleura, 
wounding the left lung ; it had also passed through the dia- 
phragm and penetrated the small curvature of the stomach, 
wounding the coronary artery, and gone through the stomach 
to the opposite side. The sword had penetrated from ten to 
eleven inches. 

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder." — Observer, 
May 10th 1852. 

The following terrible tragedy occurred in the latter 
part of 1852, in the city of London. I invite your atten- 
tion to the comments of the press upon the case, to a 
remarkable feature in the case itself, growing out of a 
declaration of the criminal, and to the observations of 
Lord Palmers ton (induced by the case), in proof of all 
that I and others have said as to the toleration of bar- 
barous cruelty to the weaker sex, and of wife-murder in 
this country, which boasts of its civilization, and which 
ventures to hold up our slaveholding States to reproba- 
tion. 

" HORRIBLE MURDER IN THE CITY. 

A murder of a most horrible character, which produced the 
greatest sensation in the eastern portion of the city, was per- 
petrated at an early hour on Tuesday*morning in Sun street, 
Bishopsgate street Without. The unfortunate creature who 
perished was a young married woman, named Mary Horler, 
aged twenty-five, and the party who has been apprehended on 
suspicion of destroying her life is her husband, Henry Horler, 
a journeyman shoemaker, who is about the same age as his un- 
fortunate victim. They had been married about twelve months, 
and occupied an apartment at No. t6 in the above street, but 
in consequence of his intemperate habits, they do not appear 
to have lived happily together. 



252 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

111 tlio course of the morning, the prisoner was charged at 
tlie Mansion house with perpetrating the deed, and after some 
brief evidence, he was remanded, as it was evident he was then 
hiboring under the excitement of drink. After a slight deten- 
tion in the cells, he was removed to the Compter in a cab. 

On Wednesday Horler was re-examined before Alderman 
Finnis, at the Mansion house. 

Dixon, the pohce Serjeant, gave the following statement : — 
' I conveyed the prisoner, when he was remanded on Tuesday, 
to prison. In going along, he said — 'After mother left the 
night before, I had talked with my wife respecting her leaving 
me in the morning to go home with her mother, which, I be- 
lieved, she did not want to do, and we then agreed to destroy 
each other. She took a knife, and I took one also. I then 
was on the bed with her, and said to her, ' Remember, this will 
be the last time.' I was then on the point of cutting her 
throat with the knife I had in my hand. She then said, ' IJenry, 
stop, I will tell you where your razor is, by which you can do 
it quicker.-' I (the officer) said to the prisoner, was she un- 
dressed ? ' No,' said he, ' we were not undressed, either of us,' 
He also said it occurred before day, early in the morning. 
When I first discovered the body it was dressed. The pri- 
soner, upon being asked whether he wished to ask any ques- 
tions of the witness, said, ' Oh, not at all, not at all. ' Wit- 
ness, in continuation, said — ' On the evening before I was sent 
by the inspector to the prisoner's house. I saw the deceased 
and her mother sitting in the room. We came down stairs 
together, and there met the prisoner, and the mother said she 
had come for her daughter. The prisoner said he had worked 
very hard to keep her and make her happy and comfortable, 
and he should do so still, and they would be very happy to- 
gether, if the mother would not interfere with them. The de- 
ceased said to him, ' Henry, if you ill-use me I certainly shall 
not stop with you.' I said, ' It's a pity you cannot settle your 
affairs ; if your husband ill-uses you, you know where to ap- 
ply.' She said, 'It's not the first or second time he ill-used 
me.' He made no rei3ly to that observation.' The pri- 
soner : ' It's an untruth to say I ill-used her ; but she said so, 
I know.' 

Thomas Balcher (city police, 618): 'I accompanied Ser- 
jeant Dixon to the room in which the body of the deceased 
lay. A counterpane was thrown over the body, and covered 
it completely. I turned down the counterpane, and saw the 
corpse of a female with her throat cut.' 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 253 

Alderman Finiiis : ' Was there any appearance of a strug- 
gle in the room ?' Witness : ' Not the slightest. I then 
went to the station to report. The prisoner was in the cell at 
the time. He asked me for some water, which I gave him, 
and he said, * I can tell you more than all the world can. I 
have done it. I know I must die for it. I know I must be 
hanged, but her mother has been the cause.' 

O. Saunderson (station serjeantj, said : ' On Monday even- 
ing, at a little after five o'clock, the prisoner came to the 
station house, and said he wished for advice. He said that 
he and his wife lived exceedingly comfortable, and were going 
on as well as any man and wife could go on, but her mother 
and aunt were at his house, and were inducing his wife to 
leave him and to go with them to Bath. He stated that his 
wife's mother was a fortune-teller, and earned a great deal of 
money, as much as £5 a day ; that she had several other mar- 
ried daughters, all of whom had children, and that his wife 
being without children, her mother was the more anxious for 
her to keep the door of her fortune-telling room. He asked 
me what he was to do, and I asked him whether his wife was 
inclined to leave him, to which he answered that they had so 
worked upon her that he believed she would leave him. He 
intimated that he had £40 or £50 in the savings bank, and 
that they wished to have it. He left the station apparently 
satisfied. At a little before six o'clock he returned to the 
station-house and mentioned that he had been home, and that 
they had treated him roughly. After nine o'clock he came 
again, accompanied by a young man, to whom he said he 
wished to deliver over his book and money. He was perfectly 
sober and collected during the whole time. On Tuesday morn- 
ing I was in the station-house when the prisoner was brought 
in, at half-past ten o'clock, on the charge of being drunk. He 
said that his mother-in-law charged him with doing away with 
her daughter, and he was very drunk and foolish at the time. 
He was asked repeatedly by his mother-in-law what he had 
done with his wife — the daughter. He always evaded answer- 
ing the question, and talked in a foolish manner about her 
being a fortune-teller. He afterwards said his mother-in-law, 
the fortune-teller, had brought him to that. I asked him what 
had become of his wife, and he said she was right enough, and 
that he had slept with her last night,' 

Mr. G. B. Childe, surgeon to the police force, said : ' I was 
sent for by Dixon to attend at 76 Sun street, Bishopsgate, and 
I saw lying on a bureau bedstead in the attic the corpse of a 
22 



254 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

young woman, apparently twenty-two or twenty-three years 
of age.' The prisoner : ' Older, older.' Witness: * She was 
dressed in a elaret-eolored g-own. Her right hand was raised 
towards her throat. Iler left hand was lying straight by her 
side. She was lying on her back, with her chin slightly in- 
clined towards the right shoulder. An extensive wound was 
in the throat on the left side. The muscles and windpipe, to- 
gether with the principal nerves and arteries on that side of 
the neck, were cut through, as also was the tube leading to 
the stomach, and the vertebrte at the back of the neck were 
exposed. She must have been dead several hours, the body 
was quite cold and stiff, and the muscles were rigid. I believe 
that, at the time the act was committed, she was either stupe- 
fied by drink or sleeping. There was no appearance of strug- 
gling having taken place. The hand had been raised too late 
to arrest the fatal weapon.' 

Mr. Henry Shaw, surgeon, of Bishopsgate street, said: 'I 
saw the body at about 11 o'clock yesterday. I believe the act 
was committed when the deceased was asleep, and my impres- 
sion was, that from the coldness and rigidity of the body, life 
must have been extinct ten or twelve hours. ' 

Ann Rogers, mother of the deceased, said : ' I am the wife 
of a mason who resides at Bath. Tlie prisoner married my 
daughter Ann on the lOtli of June, 1851, at St. James's church, 
Bath. I came to London on Monday last, in consequence of 
a letter which I received from Ann. I went with my sister to 
her lodging, at 16 Sun street, Bishopsgate, and had not time 
to speak a dozen words to her when he came in. In answer 
to my inquiry after his health, he said he was very poorly. I 
said I did not wonder at it from his usage of poor Ann, and I 
told him I was come to fetch her away.' After a few words, 
expressive of the determination of the witness to take away her 
daughter, the prisoner went away, and soon afterwards re- 
turned with a police-sergeant, who told her she was breaking 
the peace in forcing the man's wife away from him. To that 
she replied by stating that it Avas the wish of her daughter to 
go ; and the deceased confirmed the statement, at the same 
time acknowledging that she had no objection to live witli him 
if he would keep his hands off her. ' I said to my daughter 
(continued the witness), 'Are you ready to come with me, Ann ? 
1 have got a return ticket to Bath at 9 o'clock.' She said, 
* Yes, I shall, but I hardly think I am going.' She then began 
to pack her things in the trunk. The prisoner then said she 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 255 

sliould not f^o that night, but she shouhl go with me at 10 

o'clock in the morning. I told him that I did not consider her 

safe witli him. lie then took her by the hand and pulled her 

upon his knees, saying to her, ' You are not afraid of me, Ann, 

are you, dear I' She replied, ' No, provided you keep your 

hands oiF me.' After some further conversation, he said he 

would next morning get her clothes out of pawn, and she 

should be ready to go with me to the country. She then 

wanted me to sleep in the room, but the prisoner objected, and 

told me I should have some coffee in the morning, and that my 

daugliter would be ready to go with me. I told him I did not 

think she was safe with him, and I asked him what I could 

think when he-strove to strangle her last week, and her neck was 

bruised? He said, 'Was your neck bruised, Ann?' 'Yes,' 

said she, 'it was bruised ; I'll never run from my word.' All 

this took place while she was sitting on his knee, I got a 

lodging in the neighborhood, and in about a quarter of an 

hour afterwards I returned and got a bed-gown from her, and 

I told her to be in readiness to come with me next day. They 

both rej)lied that she would. I did not see either of them that 

night again. Next morning, at a little after 10, I went up 

stairs, and called 'Ann' at their door, about five minutes. I 

heard him say, as if speaking to somebody, ' Oh, that's Mrs. 

Rogers.' I said, ' Why don't you open the door to me, Henry ? 

where is Ann V He said, 'She is all right.' The witness then 

proceeded to state her suspicion of the desperate nature of the 

prisoner's conduct, and the fact of alarming the police, as had 

been represented in effect in the other evidence. 

Other witnesses, from the evidence of some of whom it ap- 
peared that the prisoner had contrived to get into a beastly 
state of intoxication, were examined, and the Alderman stated 
that he would commit the prisoner for trial for the murder of 
his wife. 

The prisoner was again placed at the bar on Thursday, and 
the depositions having been formally read over, he was fully 
committed for trial." — Weekly Dispatch, Nov. 2U-^, 1852. 

In December, 1852, Horler was tried and convicted, 
and I send you an account of his last moments, and of his 
execution. In this account you will find the observation 
of Lord Palmerston and the declaration of the criminal, 
to which I have referred. 



2.50 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



"EXECUTION OF HENRY HORLER — REMARKABLE DECLARATION 

OF THE CRIMINAL. 

This wretched man, who was convicted at the December 
sessions of the Central Criminal Court of the murder of his 
wife, Anne Horler, under circumstances of great atrocity, suf- 
fered the extreme sentence of the law yesterday morning, at 
eight o'clock, in front of Newgate. About ten days since the 
sheriffs, Messrs. Aldermen Carter and Croll, accompanied by 
the reverend ordinary of Newgate, waited upon Lord Palmer- 
ston at the Home-office, for the purpose of urging the royal 
clemency in the case. The sheriffs dwelt particularly upon the 
fact of mercy having been extended in similar cases. Lord 
Palmerston listened attentively to the application, and ex- 
pressed an opinion that the sheriffs had only done their duty 
in laying before him certain facts that had not transpired at 
the trial, but his lordship added that, after conferring with the 
judge who tried the prisoner, he saw no reason to recommend 
the exercise of the Queen's prerogative ; in fact, he wa,s not 
sure that the frequency of crimes similar to the prisoner's had 
not arisen from the clemency referred to. 

The unfavorable result of this application was communicated 
by the ordinary to Horler, who appeared little affected by it. 
He evidently still clung to the hope that his life would be 
spared. His mother and his father and his wife's aunt visited 
him subsequently, to take their last farewell. The interviews 
are described to have been very painful, but it is feared the 
prisoner exhibited little sign of true repentance. The sheriffs 
have been exceedingly attentive to the wretched man since his 
conviction, and the reverend ordinary has used the most un- 
ceasing efforts to bring him to a state of mind becoming his 
awful position. In the course of conversation with the Rev. 
Mr. Davis on Saturday, he made a remarkable admission, 
which will probably shake the faith of some of those gentlemen 
who are just now loudly urging the propriety of abolishing the 
punishment of death. After expressing the great fear he had 
of undergoing the actual pain of a violent death, he stated that 
he did not think his crime would have cost him his life — that 
he expected he should have been imprisoned for life or trans- 
ported ; but that if he had looked forward to the punishment 
of death as a probable contingency, he should not have com- 
mitted the crime. 

The remarkable statement made by the prisoner, that if he 



ETLLY buck's VISIT TO ENGLAND; 257 

had known his oitm life would have been the penalty, he would 
not have committed the crimie, will scarcely surprise those who 
remember that the following capitally convicted murderers, 
tried at the Old Bailey, have had their sentence commuted to 
transportation during the last ten years : William Stolzer, 
October, 1843; Edwin Dwyer, November, 1843; Mary Far- 
ley, April, 1844 ; Augustus Dalmas, June, 1844 ; John Smith, 
August, 1846; William Newton Allnutt, December, 184t ; 
Mary Ann Hunt, August, 184t ; Annette Meyers, February, 
1848 ; William Tomkins, May, 1848 ; George M'Coy, Decem- 
ber, 1849 ; S. A. Jordan, October, 1849 ; Anne Merrett, April, 
1850 ; and William Smith, November, 1851." — Weekly Free- 
man^s Journal, Jan. Iblh, 1853. 

In the latter part of 1852, the following was reported 
as occurring at Newcastle-upon-Tyne : 

"ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. 

On Tuesday morning, at the borough police court, New- 
castle-upon-Tyne, Robert Knox, a tailor, was brought up for 
further examination on the charge of attempting to murder his 
wife. Mrs. Knox, who was disinclined to appear against her 
husband, but had been summoned by the magistrate to attend, 
said that, on the evening of Saturday, the 28th of November, her 
husband came home very tipsy, and a quarrel took place between 
them, but she lost all recollection of what happened, until she 
found herself wounded, and police officers in the room. They 
had been married twenty-eight years, and had nine children. 
Mrs. Brennan said she lived in the room adjoining the prison- 
er's. About one o'clock in the morning of Sunday, the 29th 
of November, she heard a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Knox 
screaming on the stair-head, and on going to their room, she 
found the prisoner and his wife lying on the floor. Both were 
bleeding. The prisoner said, ' I have done it, and want to die 
in peace.' Mr. Brennan, the husband of the last witness, said 
that on the morning in question, he followed his wife into 
Knox's room, assisted to lift Mr. and Mrs. Knox from the 
floor, and then went for policemen and medical assistance. 

Mr. Finnigan, clothes dealer. Dog Bank, said that at one 
o'clock on the morning of the 29th ult., he heard the prisoner's 
daughter shout, * My mother is stabbed — he had a knife to my 
mother.' He ran into their room, and saw Mrs. Knox lying 
on her left side, near the window. The prisoner was lying 

22* R 



258 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

close to lier, and a large oarving' knife was sticking in his 
breast. Witness inquired who did it, and the prisoner then 
drew the knife from his body, threw it upon the ground, and 
said, ' You see yon I liave done it myself.^ Mrs. Knox screamed 
and said, ' Oh my heart — I am dying ;' to which the prisoner 
replied, ' Die hard, you .' 

Mrs. Finnigan, wife of the last witness, said that when she 
entered the room on tlie morning in question, she heard the 
prisoner, who had been told that his wife would recover, say, 
' I wish I had done it more eft'ectually, and I wish to die in 
peace.' She unloosed Mrs. Knox's stays, and found that she 
had been stabbed. 

Mr, J. L. JMiller, surgeon, said that between one and two 
o'clock in the morning of the 29th ult., he was sent for to the 
prisoner's house in Dog Bank. Mrs. Knox had a womid two 
inches in depth over the eighth rib, wliich must have been in- 
flicted with great violence by a sharp knife. For several days 
she was dangerously ill, but was now out of danger. The pri- 
soner had a wound two or three inches deep immediately over 
the breast bone, but it was not a dangerous one, the knife 
having been arrested in its progress by the bone. Several 
other witnesses were examined, after which Mr, Stoker, solicitor, 
who appeared for the prisoner, said that Mrs, Knox had no 
wish to prosecute, but if the magistrates considered tliat that 
was not sufficient reason why the prisoner should not be sent 
for trial, he could say nothing after tlie evidence that had been 
given. 

Dr. Airey, the sitting magistrate, said that the case must 
undoubtedly be sent for trial. The prisoner was fully com- 
mitted for trial at the next assizes." — Observer, December 
21th, 1852. 

In the early part of this year, I attended a trial at the 
Old Bailey, which I think you will admi^ seems to show 
that those " A^igoroiis measures of repression " which the 
Parliament lias been invited to adopt for the prevention 
of such savage treatment of their wives, and of women 
generally, by Englishmen, are likely to prove but a 
shabby remedy, whilst the courts and juries who try the 
offenders are composed of persons who sympathize with 
the criminal. But possibly we should not be hard on 
these gentlemen — possibly they really feel, in all humility, 
that they are not sufficiently ''without sin " in this respect 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 259 

themselves, to '^ first cast a stone." This conclusion 
would seem to be justified by the testimony of the wit- 
nesses quoted in my last letter, who deposed that one of 
these wife-murderers beat his wife only '^ in common with 
other husbands." 

Here is the trial to which I have referred: 

"death op a wife from brutal ill-treatment. 

At the Old Bailey Court on Thursday, John Parrott, forty- 
five, was indicted for the wilful murder of his wife, Sarah Par- 
rott. Mr. Bodkin, counsel for the prosecution, opened the 
case in a temperate address. He said that, although it had 
been deemed advisable for the ends of justice to prefer the pre- 
sent charge against the prisoner, yet he thought the jury ought 
to be informed that the matter had been previously inquired 
into by a coroner's jury, and that they were discharged with- 
out returning a verdict. It was, however, thought that a case 
of this description ought not to be allowed to pass without 
full investigation ; and after they had heard the evidence he 
should lay before them, they would have to say whether it 
established the fact that the deceased met her death from vio- 
lence inflicted upon her by the prisoner, and, if so, whether 
the act committed by him amounted to the crime of wilful 
murder, or was an offence of a less aggravated character. 

Three or four witnesses were then examined, and from their 
evidence it appeared that the prisoner got his living by hawk- 
ing meat about the streets, and that he and his wife lodged in 
a garret at No. 6 Spicer street, Spitalfields, and that they 
were in a most wretched state of poverty. The deceased 
woman was in a very weak and emaciated state of body, and 
nearly blind ; and it appeared that during nearly the whole 
of the time the parties occupied this lodging they were con- 
tinually quarrelling, and the deceased was repeatedly heard to 
scream for assistance, and to call 'murder.' It would seem 
that in the evening of the Yth of December the deceased and 
the prisoner were heard quarrelling upon the staircase of the 
house by some of the other lodgers, and the prisoner, in answer 
to something that was said by the deceased, told her that he 
would do something for her the next day. On the following 
morning, between seven and eight o'clock, a woman named 
Merrett, who occupied a room directly under the prisoner's 
garret, heard screams and cries of murder come from his room, 
which continued for nearly half an hour. During this time 



260 Till] SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

prisoner was heard to swear at deceased and make nse of very 
foul langnage. and deceased repeatedly called out that her hus- 
iand was murderiiis:!: lier. This witness went out of her room 
and called to the prisoner, and said, ' Parrot, what are you 
doinj? to that poor creature ?' and he made some answer which 
she did not clearly hear. She then said that she should go for 

the police, to which the prisoner replied, ' the police.' 

Shortly after this the prisoner went out, and did not return 
until between nine and ten o'clock, and he then went into his 
own room, and immediately afterwards the deceased again 
beffan to scream and call murder, and there was the sound of 
a senlTle, as though some person had fallen, and that some 
struggle was taking place upon the tloor. After a short time 
had elapsed, the prisoner left the house a second time, and when 
he was gone, all was quiet in his room. He came home again 
about five o'clock ; immediately after he got into his room he 
alarmed the lodgers, and on going to the garret he occupied, 
the deceased was found lying on a straw mattress quite dead, 
and from the rigid and cold state of the body it was evident 
that death had taken place for several hours. When the pri- 
soner was informed that his wife was dead and cold, he said, 
'nonsense,' and that the persons who said so were mad; he 
added that he had spoken to her ten minutes before, and asked 
her to have some tea, and he said that she answered him by 
saying that she did not know where she was. These were the 
main facts of the case ; and it appeared that when the prisoner 
was apprehended, he at lirst denied that his name was John 
Parrott, but afterwards, upon the policeman telling him that 
it was no use his doing so, he admitted the fact ; and when he 
was told that he was charged with causing the death of iiis 
wife, he said that he had got over all that by the coroner's 
inquest. 

Dr. Godfrey, the surgeon who was called in upon the occa- 
sion, said that, upon examining the body of the deceased, he 
was unable to discover any mark of external violence, but on 
the 11th of December, he, by direction of the coroner, made 
a post-mortem examination. He then discovered that the body 
was in a dreadfully emaciated condition, every portion of fat 
in the intestines being entirely absorbed. One of the lungs 
was very much compressed, and full of venous blood, and from 
this and other appearances that presented themselves, he was 
of opinion that the death arose from suifocation. Upon 
examining the head of the deceased, he found a quantity of 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 261 

hair had been torn out completely by the roots, and there was 
some coagulated blood inside the head corresponding with the 
place whence the hair had been taken. lie expressed an 
opinion, from all the circumstances, that the deceased had died 
through some person having seized her by the hair and pulled 
her head forcil)ly forward upon her chest, and this, in her at- 
tenuated condition, he said was very likely to have caused suf- 
focation. He also expressed an opinion that the death might 
have been occasioned by the pressure of a person kneeling 
upon the chest of the deceased, and he was rather fortified in 
this opinion by the condition of the lungs ; and he added that 
the pressure might be sufficient to cause suffocation, and yet 
not leave any external mark. 

Mr. Sleigh, in his address to the jury for the prisoner, urged 
that the evidence as to the cause of death was not sufficiently 
conclusive to justify them in finding a verdict of guilty upon 
so dreadful a charge ; and that, from the evidence of the medi- 
cal gentleman, starvation might have had quite as much to do 
with the death, as any act of the prisoner. 

Mr. Justice Cresswell having summed up, the jury, after a 
very short deliberation, found the prisoner Guilty of man- 
slaughter. 

The learned judge said the prisoner had been found guilty 
of a very dreadful crime, and he entirely concurred in the ver- 
dict of the jury. He thought it was very probable that he did 
not intend to kill his unfortunate wife, and, therefore, he had 
been properly acquitted of the crime of wilful murder ; but, 
at the same time, it was quite clear that her death was the re- 
sult of his savage and brutal violence. The offence had been 
clearly made out, and he should sadly fail in his duty to the 
public, if he did not pass a severe sentence, which was, that 
he be transported beyond the seas for his natural life." — 
Weekly Diapatch, February Qth, 1853. 

Pray notice that the coroner's inquest was unable to 
agree as to the character of the crime in this case ; and 
the jury, upon the final trial, convicted of manslaughter 
only — the learned judge agreeing to the correctness of the 
verdict, but admitting that it was quite clear that ''the 
wife's death " v/as the result of the husband's " savage 
and brutal violence." And yet, though this savage and 
brutal violence was the cause of that poor, helpless, starv- 



262 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

ing, emacicated creature's death, both judge and jury find 
and say that she was not murdered. How can such a 
conclusion, by possibility, be accounted for, but upon the 
supposition of a controlling sympathy with the brute mur- 
derer ? Again I repeat it, that Englishman spoke truly 
who said that, in this country, '^ the vow to protect con- 
fers a license to kill.". 

Another case occurred in London during this year, 
which also serves as an illustration of what I have just 
said. The report is entitled " Brutal Murder of a Wife ;" 
but of course the jury did not find it to be more than 
manslaughter. 



"BRUTAL MURDER OF A WIFE. 

On Saturday week, a man named Francis Mead, a shoe- 
maker, residing in Henry street, Marylebone, beat his wife to 
death. The principal witness against him was his own son, a 
lad fourteen years of age. It seems that, on Saturday week 
last, the prisoner beat his wife, until her face, head, and arms, 
were bruised and swollen ; then kicked her, and hurled her 
about the room, until he had broken two of her ribs, which, 
penetrating her lungs, brought on inflammation of those organs, 
of which, on the following Monday, she died. Mary Wynn, 
an acquaintance of deceased, said that she visited her on Mon- 
day, when she saw her husband sitting at deceased's bedside. 
Witness asked how she met with the injuries. The husband 
replied that on Saturday night his wife had been drinking, 
and that on running away from him she fell down stairs and 
fractured her ribs. He then asked deceased if she wished to 
say anything in witness' presence. She replied, 'What do 
you wish me to say ? I forgive you, and may the Lord for- 
give you. I have nothing to say; I die in peace.' After a 
pause, she further said, ' Francis, I am dying ; take care of 
my children, and don't beat Frank' About an hour after- 
wards, she died. The jury found a verdict of ' manshiughter' 
against Francis Mead." — Hull Packet, June 11th, 1853. 

Poor, poor creature ! Well might she feel that it was 
peace to be free from such a state of existence — peace to 
go where there were no more husbands ; although, in so 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 263 

doing, she liad to lecave tliat poor little Frank to the tender 
mercies of the savage who had had no compassion on her. 
I will return to this subject in another letter; and will 
close this with the assurance that I am, as ever, 

Eespectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTEE XXVII. 

MURDER OF A WIFE, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE HUS- 
BAND — buck's indignation thereat, and criticisms 

THEREON. 

London, December 9th, 1853. 

Dear Major: — In the latter part of August last, I 
visited the Eoyal Mint, taking my servant with me. We 
started to return, during the afternoon, on foot, and were 
lingering somewhere in the (to me) interesting neighbor- 
hood of the Minories, when our attention was attracted 
by a cry of distress. I looked in the direction from which 
it proceeded, and beheld a spectacle which I sometimes 
still see in my dreams. A woman was running towards 
us, her arms thrown wildly about, and her clothes covered 
with, blood, which was flowing from a frightful gash in 
her throat. She soon fell to the ground. We and others 
ran to the spot, raised her, and, at the instance of some 
one present, carried her to a surgeon who lived at no 
great distance. She was evidently in a dying condition, 
and I left her and returned to the scene of the catastro- 
phe, that I might learn something of the particulars. As 
we proceeded, I said to my man that I thought it very 
probable this was another case of a wife murdered by her 
husband. 

''As sure as a gun, Marster," said he, ''hit is nuther 
one o' them bloody family frays, which I bleve in my soul 



264 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

tliese Inglisli people raally loves. In our country, you 
know, sir, wlien husbands git oudacious mail with their 
wives, they cusses and quits, and thinks they s done their 
worst ; but here they kills 'um. But, Marster, what's too 
much for this nigger to onderstand is, the way they most 
allers does it. 'Pears like hit's the natur of Inglishmen 
to stick their wives in the throat. In Georgy we does 
hogs so, and cuts the throats of beasts, becase we wants 
to blood the meat well ; but why these Inglishmen should 
want to do their wives so, beats me. Hit raally do seem 
like they loves to see blood run." 

''It does indeed. Buck; and there I suspect you have 
hit the nail upon the head," said I. '' They seem to be 
gratifying two passions when they are thus acting — one 
of anger, the other, love of blood. The number of such 
cases is truly wonderful, as you have suggested. But 
what is this ?" 

The last observation was induced by the approach of a 
crowd of person, in the midst of whom a man was borne 
along, who seemed also to have received a wound in the 
throat. I asked a Jewish-looking person who stood near 
me for an explanation, and was told that the wounded 
man was the husband of the woman we had seen ; that, 
after cutting her throat, he had endeavored to perform 
the same office for himself, and that the neighbors were 
now taking him to the surgeon also, but that he was npt 
as danger ouslv hurt as his wife. 

" Bound for that !" said Buck. " Bound for that ! -be- 
case, mister, hit was one thing to stick his wife in the 
gullet, and anotlier thing to stick hisself. He pushed the 
knife into his poor critter of a wife hard enough, God 
knows ! But in course he cut hisself sorter more gra- 
dual. Nobody but a coward Avould hurt a 'oman, and a 
coward is allers mighty clar of bein much in arnest when 
he comes to hurtin hisself. All I hope, mister, is, that 
the doctor won't sew the hole up, but let the bloody var- 
mint die, ef thar's any chance for it." 

" Buck, Buck," said I, " this is going too far. You are 
forgetting yourself. ' ' 

" Beg pardon, Marster, but I was sorter ryled, from 
seein that poor sufferin creetur of a 'oman, who I spect is 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 265 

dead 'fore now ; and I couldn't help thinkin that ef the 
man that killed her didn't take his own life, nobody would 
do it for him in this country, an a mighty bloody crime 
would go onpunished, Marster." 

The woman died, as I supposed she would, in a short 
time after I left her, and an inquest was held over her the 
next day. From a report in a paper of the day, you will 
get the facts of the case. I send it, as follows : 



"MURDER OF A WIFE — ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY THE HUSBAND. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Joseph Mobbs, residing at Enoch 
court, Goodwin's-yard, Minories, murdered his wife, and then 
attempted to destroy himself. Since Easter he had lived in the 
house of an industrious man named Riardon, and his four chil- 
dren, by a former wife, lived with him. He was intemperate 
in his habits, and, when intoxicated, behaved so brutally in 
flogging and ill-treating his wife, that he latterly acquired in 
the neighborhood the cognomen of ' General Haynau.' In the 
course of Tuesday night he quarrelled with his wife, and she 
ran to a neighbor's in the same court, where she remained all 
night. On AYednesday morning he called for her, and com- 
pelled her to go home, when he resumed his ill-treatment, load- 
ing her with curses and execrations. About the middle of the 
day the landlady of the house left home to obtain from the Lord 
Mayor an ejectment summons, to get rid of Mobbs and his 
family. The landlady returned at three o'clock, and heard 
Mobbs and his wife talking in a subdued tone in their room 
on the first floor, and shortly afterwards she heard a scream, 
and Mrs. Mobbs rushed from the room with a frightful wound 
in her throat, and ran about one hundred yards from the house, 
when she fell exhausted, and faintly exclaiming, ' Murder ! he 
has cut my throat.' A crowd collected, and she was taken to 
a surgeon, and then conveyed in a cab to the London Hospital, 
but was a corpse before she reached it. Meanwhile the neigh- 
bors had proceeded to the room of the murderer, and found 
him weltering in his blood from an extensive wound in the 
throat. On his way to the hospital he used incoherent excla- 
mations respecting his wife. It seems that he was very jealous 
of her, but the jealousy appears to have been unfounded. He 
was seen in the morning industriously sharpening a table-knife, 
which was found on the floor of his room when his wife was 
23 



266 THE SLAVEIIOLPER ABROAD; OR, 

nmvdoYod. llo is a jobbinc; wine cooper, and is about 40 years 
of ag-e. The wile was about the same age." — Obsei^ver, Aug. 
29M, IS53. 

You will poix'oivo, !Major, (hat his uoiglibors oallod tliit^ 
man Mobbs '^ Gen. Haynau," becaut^e of his cruelty to his 
wifo. After all the facts which appear in my last two or 
three letters, you may think it surprising tliat English- 
men — and that class of Englishmen, too, who so contemp- 
tuously and insultingly treated this woman-flogging Aus- 
trian general — should have been so excessively indignant 
at the conduct of " General Haynau." Can it be that 
they desire a monopoly of the article of brutality to 
woman ? Seriously, though, whilst I truly sympathized 
with those who so flouted the brutal soldier, and rejoiced 
at what they did, I cannot but thiidc that the proceeding 
was very much o( humbug — I cannot but feel that this 
English people ha.ve a strong leaning towards the practice 
of iiumbugging themselves. The case before us, and the 
slavery agitation, are both illustrations ; for surely they 
cannot be so prodigiously blinded in vision and blunted 
in sensibility by the beams (some splinters of Avhich I am 
pointing out tor your inspection), though I admit that 
1 liese are huge, which are in the eye of their social system, 
as to be entirely ignorant of their presence. It is impos- 
sible, therefore, not to think and talk of humbug, when 
we witness these outbreaks of virtuous effort to pluck the 
mote out of the eyes of their neighbors. 

It would be easy for me to continue this catalogue of 
wife-n\urders. But I have too much else to write for 
your consideration, to spare more time and space to this 
cliiss of crimes. Enough has been shown you to authorize 
the inference which I have pressed upon your attention. 
I will continue to send you evidence of the terrible cru- 
elty with which the women of this country are treated 
by its men. But iirst, and in my next letter, I will show 
you how the wives serve the husbands here occasionally. 
In the meantime, I am, 

Very respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 
To Major J. Jones. P. Jones. 

Pineville, Georgia, U.S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 207 



LETTER XXVIII. 

MURDER OF TIfKlK HUSBANDS BY MARIA CAGE AND SARAH 
CHESHAM — FORTUNE-TELLINO AND POISONINa — A WIFE 

POISONS HER HUHliAND IN SUSSKX DR. JONES AND BUCK 

ATTEND THE TRIAL, AND FIND THAT SAUCE FOR THE ENG- 
LISH GOOSE IS NOT ALWAYS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. 

London, December 3l8t, 1853. 

Dear Majoii : — It is reasonable to expect that, in a 
country where the men are bloodthirsty and savage in 
their ternj^ers and conduct, the women will partake more 
or less of tlie same characteristics. It would be strange, 
too, in such a country, where husbands are in the constant 
habit of murdering and otherwise maltreating their wives, 
if the latter were not sometimes driven to acts of despe- 
rate wickedness. Accordingly, it is true, as you may 
have inferred from the facts which I have already fur- 
nished you, that the women of England have a share in 
the cruelties and crimes, and more especially in the horrid 
murders, which abound there. It is true, and must be 
confessed, that, if domestic Tarquins do abound in this 
land, and frequently make victims of their wives^ an 
Aruns here occasionally finds his Tullia. 

After the long list of ferocious murders of wives by 
their husbands which you have been reading, it will, per- 
haps, be almost a gratification to be reminded that the 
wives '' turn the tables " on their husbands here some- 
times. Before proceeding with other remarkable illustra- 
tions of the cruel treatment of women which j>revai]s in 
England, and by way of somewhat diversifying the gloomy 
interest of the subject, I will call your attention to a few 
cases of the murder of husbands by wives. 

In my letter of October 15th, last, I mentioned to you 
the case of Maria Cage, who poisoned her husband with 



268 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

arsenic. In the same lottor, I rofcrrod to tlic remarkable 
case of Sarali Chesliam, who was executed for a similar 
offeuco. Here is an interesting case, taken from tlie "Ob- 
server" of September 1st, 1851, and by that paper copied 
from the " Ipswich Express." 

" FORTUNE TELLING AND POISONING. 

At the petty sessions for the Wisbeeh division, Catherine 
Panoock, of AVisbech, was committed for seventeen days for 
pretending' to tell the fortune of llannali Neale, of Outwell, the 
unhappy woman who now stands committed for the murder of 
her husband. The case was proved by her sister-in-law, who 
aeeompanied the prisoner to the house of Daneoek on the 17th 
of July last. Danoock gave Hannah Xeale a pack of cards 
to shutlie, and desired her to cut them three times, which having 
done, she returned the cards, and Dancock then placed nine 
of them upon the table with their faces upwards, and in read- 
ing from them said, ' Your husband won't live long, for all the 
dark cards lay before him ; you will be married to Cater, have 
two children, ^and keep a public house.' Upon hearing this, 
the infatuated woman desired Dancock to write a letter for her 
to Cater in the following words : * My husband has been very 
ill, and I thought he wotdd have died. I wish you to come 
home at ^lichaelmas, as I want to see you.' The letter was 
signed with the initial letters H. N., and addressed Church 
Cater, Sheflfield. Xeale paid 3d. for tlie prediction, and was 
to pay od. more for the letter writing when she next went to 
the house. It was their second visit, they having been there 
about six weeks previously, when ^[rs. Dancock pretended to 
reveal to them the future. They had also visited a Mrs. Mudd, 
at Upvvell, for a similar purpose, and she was also summoned, 
but for want of sufficient evidence was discharged. 

As it appeared from the evidence against Hannah Neale, 
on a charge of poisoning her husband at Outwell, that she had 
purchased two quantities of arsenic at the shops of John W. 
Feast and Henry Whitaker, these parties were on Monday 
charged before the magistrates, at Downham, with having sold 
>to Hannah Xeale a quantity of arsenic, without having com- 
plied with the provisions of an act recently passed for the sale 
of poisons. Tliis act renders it imperative that before the 
arsenic is delivered to the purchaser, the seller shall enter in a 
book kept for the purpose the date of the sale, the Christian 
name and surname of the purchaser, the purchaser's place of 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 269 

abode, the condition and occupation of tlie purchaser, tlie quan- 
tity of arsenic sold, and the purpose for which it is required ; 
and also, that before the arsenic is delivered, it must be mixed 
with soot or indigo, in certain proportions. In neither of the 
above cases had any of these stipulations been complied with ; 
and each of the parties rendered themselves liable to a penalty 
of £20 ; but this being the first case which has occurred since 
the passing of the act, and the object of the information being 
rather to give publicity to its provisions than to punish the 
offenders, the magistrates allowed the information to l)e with- 
drawn, upon the parties paying the costs incurred, expressing 
a hope that it would act as a caution to other dealers in poison ; 
but it is lamentable to reflect that the life of a fellow-creature 
was probably sacrificed by this neglect of the provisions of the 
law." — Ipswich Expreas. 

A sim lar murder occurred last year, the report of 
which I send you. It is almost as atrocious as any of the 
crimes with which I have made you acquainted, and cer- 
tainly affords evidence of shocking social depravity. 

"A WIFE POISONS HER HUSBAND IN SUSSEX. 

On Monday, a second inquest was held at Chiddingley, eight 
miles from Lewes, before Mr. Gell, the county coroner, on Wil- 
liam French, an agricultural laborer, aged 35 years. The de- 
ceased had been married nine years to Sarah Ann French, and 
was generally considered sound and healthy ; but a couple of 
days before the tth ult. he took suddenly ill, and died on that 
day. There was no suspicion entertained of unfair treatment, 
and an inquest was held on the body, and a verdict of ' Died 
from natural causes' was returned. I3ut circumstances subse- 
quently led Mr. Flanagan, superintendent of constabulary, to 
institute inquiries, which led to the apprehension of deceased's 
widow, and the coroner re-opened the inquiry. On this second 
inquest it a[)peared that a couple named Pelling resided in the 
sai^ie house with the Frenches, and on the morning of Wednes- 
day, the 7th (the day of the death), Mrs. Felling called in to 
see Mrs, French. She asked Frcmch how he was, and he said 
he was better. At eleven o'clock that night, Mrs. French 
rapped smartly at the partition dividing her apartments from 
those of the Fellings, and said, 'Make as niuch haste as you 
can.' Mrs. Felling got up and hastened in to Mrs. French, 
who said, ' I think mv husband is gone ;' and that he had been 
23* 



270 THE SLAVEI-IOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

taken ill, and had vomited after Christmas Eve, and that he 
had suffered from a rupture. A young man, named James 
Hickman, had often been at French's house, but it did not 
appear that French complained of Hickman's visits. 

A variety of evidence was given as to the treatment of the 
deceased, and it appeared that at Christmas medicine had been 
supplied to him by Mr. Holm an, the surgeon, for pains in the 
bowels ; but his death was nevertheless sudden, for his brother, 
who worked with him, was unaware of his indisposition, until 
he was called up at one o'clock on the morning of his death, 
and on going in, found him dead. He had not heard until 
then that he was ruptured. He asked Mrs. French how he 

* went off?' She said he turned in his bed, and said, ' You are 
my wife, haint you ?' and then died. 

On the Monday previous to his death, Mrs. French was met 
by a woman named Sale, and said, 'I have been that way 
(meaning the way that led to the church) once too often.' 
Sale asked was that when she went to be married ? She an- 
swered, 'Yes.' This, hov/ever, was said in a joking mood, 
and the general evidence showed that she and French lived on 
good terms together. With respect to her applying for and 
procuring arsenic, some rather strong and probably conclusive 
evidence was adduced. On the day before French died she is 
described as having visited the shop of Mr. Uriah Clark, of 
Dicker, and asking him whether he sold arsenic. She stated 
she wanted it for a farmer. She, however, was told that it 
was not kept there, and she went away. 

Naomi Crowhurst, the wife of Owen Crowhurst, a farrier, at 
Horsebridge, deposed that about three weeks ago, in the be- 
ginning of the week, she recollected seeing Sarah Ann French, 
the widow of the deceased, come into her kitchen to see her 
servant, Harriette Wilmshurst. When she came in, she asked 
for two pennyworth of arsenic. The witness (Mrs. Crowhurst) 
at first said she had not got any, and then asked her what she 
wanted it for. Mrs. French replied she was overrun with 
mice. After some further inquiries, however, and being cau- 
tioned as to how she left it about the house, she was served 
with a small parcel of white arsenic. Mrs. Crowhurst did not 
weigh it, but wrote th^ word * poison' upon it, and told her to 
be very careful, as many people might mistake it for magnesia, 
and that several people had been poisoned by it. She replied, 

* Oh ! has there V She tendered Is. in payment. She was 
charged 3d. for the pa,cket, and received back the change. On 
the 28th inst., Mrs. Crowhurst saw Mrs. French at a public- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 271 

house called the Gun. At that time she was dressed as a 
widow, and it was suggested, in order that there should be no 
mistake about her identification, that she should dress herself 
in the apparel she had on when she procured the poison. She 
did so, and Mrs. Crowhurst recognized her as the person who 
had purchased the arsenic, as she had stated. Mrs. French 
remarked that she had never seen her before, but the servant, 
Harriette Wilmshurst, was called, and she confirmed in every re- 
spect the testimony of her mistress. She also had no doubt 
of Mrs. French being the person who was supplied with the 
packet of arsenic. On being apprehended, she stated to Su- 
perintendent Flanigan that she never purchased any arsenic 
in her life, but that at Christmas her husband had bought two 
separate halfpennyworths to kill mice ; and that if any poison 
were found in him, he must have taken it himself, as he was 
very low at Christmas about some bills coming in. She said 
he was not attended by any medical man, that he took ill on 
Sunday night, was better on Monday, worse on Tuesday, and 
died on Wednesday. 

Mr. Holman, surgeon, deposed to the result of a post mortem 
examination. 

Mr. Alfred S. Taylor, professor of chemistry of Guy's Hos- 
pital, deposed to making the usual analysis of the contents 
of the stomach, and finding arsenic in sufficient quantities to 
cause death. 

James Hickman, whose appearance was very youthful, de- 
posed that he had known Mrs. French for twelve months, and 
that he used to visit her house, as he was courting her sister, 
Jane Piper. He said that Mrs. French was very fond of him, 
but that he had no improper intimacy with her during her hus- 
band's lifetime. She had often kissed him, and she said she 
loved him, but he refused to have any intimacy with her during 
her husband's lifetime. She then asked him would he marry 
her if her husband was dead, and he replied, ' Yes, as her sister, 
whom he was courting, had got another man.' She said she 
expected a little money, about £100. On Christmas Eve de- 
ceased ate onion pie for supper. No one else tasted it. Mrs. 
French gave witness a ring a month before Christmas to keep 
in remembrance of her, and she said she would expect him to 
give her a ring when they were married. He repeated that 
he never was improperly intimate with Tier during her husband's 
lifetime. 

The prisoner, after being duly cautioned by the coroner, said 



o'-o 

-J i -i 



THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OK, 



she was quite iutiocent, and that she never bought arsenic in 
her life. 

The coroner siininied up, and the jury returned a verdict of 
wilful murder against Sarali, otherwise Sarah Ann French. 

She was committed to the county jail for trial at the next 
assizes. On arriving at the jail she was seized with alarming 
illness, but was restored in about two hours by medical aid." — 
Observer, February ^th, 1852. 

jis Lewes, where I was informed the trial of this 
woman would take place, was comparatively a short dis- 
tance from London, being situated in Sussex, but little 
more than an hour's ride by rail, south from the metro- 
polis ; and as it was an ancient historical locality which I 
desired to see, I determined to attend the sessions of the 
court there. I wont down, therefore, in time for the trial. 
The evidence submitted was very much the same as that 
which was before the coroner's inquest, and which I have 
already furnished. I shall not repeat it, but will send 
only a succinct report of it, from a number of the 
^' Observer." 

" HOME CIRCUIT. — LEWES. — SATURDAY. 

\_Before Mr. Baron Parke.'] 

Sarah Anne French, aged twenty-seven, was indicted for 
the wilful murder of W. French. The particulars of this case 
have already been reported in The Observer. The trial was 
commenced on Friday, and terminated last night. 

John French, a brother of the deceased, said that the last 
time he saw his brother alive was on Christmas Eve, when he 
was in very good health. On the morning of the tth of Janu- 
ary, he saw him dead. The prisoner was crying when he got 
to the cottage, but he expected to see. her hurt a good deal 
more. A witness proved that the prisoner had arsenic in her 
possession. 

Mr. H. Holman, a surgeon, said he had made a post-iaortem 
examination of the body, but discovered no cause from whiclr 
death could have proceeded. At that time there was no sus- 
picion of the deceased having been poisoned. — Dr. Taylor, 
who had examined the contents of the intestines, proved the 
presence of arsenic. — Mary Bennett stated that when the body 
of the deceased was taken up for examination, the prisoner 
said all she was afraid of was that they should find poison in 



9 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 273 



him. — James Hickman, a young man, about twenty, was then 
examined, and said he had been in the habit of visiting the de- 
ceased and the prisoner. He had first gone to the house while 
he was courting the prisoner's sister. He was often in the cot- 
tage while the deceased was absent, and the prisoner had more 
than once told him that she loved him, and she had often kissed 
him. After detailing many familiarities which had taken place 
between the prisoner and himself, the witness acknowledged 
having had guilty intercourse with her. He denied ever hav- 
ing purchased arsenic, or having any in his possession. 

On cross-examination, the witness said that the prisoner had 
told him that she had got as much as i.500, and if she were to 
marry him she could keep him without his being obliged to 
work. The deceased had bought some arsenic to kill mice 
with the day before Christmas Day. The night after the funeral 
of the deceased, witness was called out of his bed to go and 
see the prisoner, and he went to the cottage and staid the re- 
mainder of the night with her. They had some conversation 
about the death of her husband, and the prisoner said that if 
any poison was found in his body he must have taken it him- 
self. 

After some further evidence had been given, Mr. Rodwell 
addressed the jury for the prisoner, and begged that they 
would not find her guilty, unless they were of opinion that no 
other hand than hers had administered the poison, from which 
the deceased had evidently died. He then commented upon 
the conduct of Hickman, who, he said, from the gross crimi- 
nality of his conduct, was as likely as the prisoner to have 
given the poison. 

Mr. Baron Parke, in summing up, said that if the jury 
thought the poison was administered by any other hand than 
that of the prisoner, still if they came to the conclusion that 
she was cognizant of the fact, she was equally guilty of the 
crime of murder. 

The jury, after being absent about two hours, returned into 
court with a verdict of Guilty. 

The learned judge then put on the black cap, and in a brief 
but impressive address, sentenced the prisoner to death, ob- 
serving that the enormity of her crime left no hope of mercy 
in this world." 

My servant was with me, as usual, when I attended 
this trial; and after its close, he was very bitter in his 
denunciations of the witness Hickman. 

s 



274 TIFE SLAVEIIOLDl'lll ABROAD; 0.U, ^ 

*' Tlio low-livod ra8('.al !" lie said ; 'Svliy, lio aiiit wori.li 
sliiicks. PrapB tlio 'omaii dosarvos t-o die — I reckon she 
do; l)ufc ina.yho I wouldn't rod, cvC I was a jurorman, 
'lore I'd luinij; a.uybody upon yioli a ibllor's evidence. Tell 
you what, Marstor — that geuTman with long har, an a 
frock on, that spoke up so mighty smart for the 'oman, 
Wiis right when he said that feller was bad as her. lie 
was wosor 'en her, to my mind ; for 'peared like he 
wanted lier husband pisenod, though he was too big a 
ccnvard to help hei* do it ; an artcr hit was done, he got 
ska.a.d, turned round, an k^.t the cat out o' the bag. 
That's the way to tell it, to my mind, Marster. Then 
wha,r was the use o' his tellin 'bout her kissin him an 
lovin him so ? My Lord ! lu^xp o' these Inglishmen too 
mean. Even poor nigger wouldn't let a 'oman kiss him 
ail then tell on her." 

Mi/sdf. " I agree with you, Buck, that he was a very 
despicable witness; but there can be no doubt of the 
wonuin's guilt." 

./ritck. "Looks so to me, Marster; but that Judge 
]\Ioliid oughten to let. the juror put any coiiiidenec in that 
villain, but told 'uni to hang him with her. Nuther thing 
sorter puzzles me, sir — Judo;e Melud told the 'oman " 

Ml/self. ''Who, Buck? Who told her?" 

Jhid', 'Mudge Melud, sir. Didn't them lawyers call 
the Judge ' Melud,' Marster? Aint that his name, sir?" 

Myself. ^' Pshaw, Buck ! They said, or meant to say, 
'my lord.' That is the title by which a nid^e is called 
m England. 

Jhu'k. ''My lord, Marstor! I didn't know, sir, they 
was tryin to say 'my lord.' Well, as I was a say in, sir, 
the judge told that 'oman that the 'normity o' her crime 
lol't her no hope for marcy in this world ; an I couldn't 
help thinkin that hit was not adzackly so in them cases 
wo been seoiu an hoarin of wluir the husbands murdered 
thar wives in this country. The 'normity o' them crimes 
didn't forbid hope o' marcy in this world. I heap o' 
times hear say, my Marster, that what is sarco for the 
goose is sarco for the gander. But 'pears like 'taint so 
with Liglish gander." 

Ml/self. " There is much force in what you say, Buck." 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 275 

Buck. '' Then whar was the use o the judge puttin' on 
that 'bominable black cap to skaar the poor critter with, 
when he was gwine to say what he did to her. God knows 
he was ugly 'nuff before." 

Myself. '^ The putting on of the black cap by the 
judge, when about to pass sentence of death upon a cri- 
minal, is a very ancient custom, established in the English 
courts, when they were less refined in their tast(3S than 
they are now, and more addicted to form and ceremony ; 
and was intended, I suppose, to be symbolical of the 
mournful duty which that officer was about to perform. 
It is a form in which the improved taste of the age should 
not see much to admire, in my opinion. But the English 
people are slow to change their venerable forms, for fear 
that respect for the matters of substance of which they 
are usually the type, or drapery, should rashly undergo a 
change." 

Buck. ''Fact is, Marster, more I see of this Inglish 
people, more it raaly does 'pear to me I never shill git the 
nang of thar ways, no way I can fix it." 

You shall hear from me again soon, Major; until 
when, I am, 

Eespectfully, 

Your friend and cousin,. 
P. Jones. 

To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville Ga. U. S. of America. 



270 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR. 



LETTER XXIX. 

BRUTAL TREATMENT OF THEIR AVIYES BY ENGLISHMEN MA- 
LICIOUS STABBING OP A WIFE SAVAGE AN1> INHUMAN 

CONDUCT TO A >YIFK BY HER HUSBAND — ATTEMPTED MUR- 
DER OF A WIFE, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE HUS- 
BAND — ILL-TREATMENT OF A WIFE, AND HER REFUSAL TO 
PROSECUTE WUFE-BEATING, AND WUFE RKFUSING TO PRO- 
SECUTE — THREATENING TO MURDER A WIFE. 

London, January 30th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — I have not informed you of half the 
remarkable instances of brutal violence committed by the 
men of England upon their wives, with which T have 
been made acquainted during the last thi'ce years. I will 
now send you some reports of cases less fatal in results 
than the murders to which I have called your attention, 
bat scarcely less atrocious in character. 

In the year 1S51, a man by the name of McLean was 
tried before the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 
for attempting to murder his wife by hanging her. lie 
was acquitted. I have not the record of his trial, but 
you w411 find a reference to it in an article contained in 
my letter of December 1st, last, and headed '' Ill-treat- 
ment and Murder of Wives." You will there find an 
English editor's opinion of the case, and of the way in 
which, to use Buck's figure of speech, the sauce is sup- 
plied to the English gander. 

Earlv in 1852 , the followin<:j: case occurred. It fur- 
nishes another illustration of that trait in an English- 
lishman's nature, of w^hich Buck has spoken : viz., a 
strong propensity, when in a passion Avith his wife, to 
thrust his knife into her throat. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 277 



" A8SIZK INTELLIGENCE — MALICIOUSLY STABBINO. 

At the assizes held at Winchester C Western Circuit) before 
Mr, Justice Talfourd, Edwin James Harris was indicted for 
maliciously stabhinjr his wife, Mary Harris, with intent to mur- 
der hf-r, at Southampton, on the 27th of December, It ap- 
peared that these parties, who seemed to be decent kind of 
people, had been married twenty years. Differences at last 
arose between them, which ended in a separation ; but they 
had so far become reconciled as to meet and walk together, and 
shortly before Christmas Day they arranjred to dine tojrether 
on that day, and he gave her 7s, Cs. to purchase the dinner. 
They met again the next day, and he then wanted some of the 
money back again, and she returned him some part of it. He 
was in liquor, and she went to his lodging with him to take 
care of him. He kissed her many times and cried very much. 
She begged him not to cry, and said she would come and see 
him in the morning, when he would be better. She left him 
and went home. They met again on the 27th of December, 
She went to his lodging and made his tea. He cried and kissed 
her. They saw his landlord, who said he wondered he would 
be seen with his wife after what he had called her. His coun- 
tenance instantly changed. She said he dared not repeat the 
word in her presence, and she became angry, and said if he 
repeated it, she would slap his face ; she ha^i always been a 
faithful and virtuous wife to him, and had supported herself by 
stay-making during the time she lived separately from him. 
After the words had passed in the public house, they left, and 
walked together some distance without speaking a word. At 
length the prisoner said, ' What did he say V alluding to w^hat 
the landlord had said. He then said, 'There's no knowing the 
heart of any man ;' and he began to push his wife. She told 
him not to do so. He laid hold of her, and sh^ thought he 
was going to kiss her. She remonstrated with him, and she 
then saw him draw a knife from his pocket, and he attempted 
to cut her throat. She screamed, and they fell — he was still 
endeavoring to cut her throat. The cuts went through her 
shawl, bonnet, and ribands, and five wounds were inflicted on 
her face and neck. At the instant a young woman came np 
and seized the hand in which was the knife, and pulled his head 
back. She contrived to hold his hand and the knife for some 
time, till he got his hand away, and again cut at his wife, who 
screamed ' Murder,' and said, * My dear, don't cut mv throat.* 
24 



278 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

The other woman said, ' You bad man, you've killed the 
woman,' and she ran and procured assistance. She returned 
and took the prisoner by the collar. He said, 'I am not going 
to run away.' She said, 'I'll take care you don't, you bad 
man;' and she gave him into the custody of two policemen. 
The wife was confined to her bed for some time ; the wounds 
did not heal for nearly a month, and were still at times very 
painful. When the prisoner was sober, he was very kind to 
his wife, but he was given to drink, and was then very excita- 
ble ; he would change in a moment. When the prisoner was 
taken he said his wife was a brute, and had taken the knife out 
of his pocket and tried to cut his throat. The knife was a 
common pruning knife. There was blood on the ground. 

Mr. C. Saunders addressed the jury with considerable force 
for the prisoner, contending that there was not a deliberate in- 
tention to murder the wife. Two days before the man had 
treated her with the greatest kindness and afi'ection ; he had 
cried, he had kissed her, he was anxious to forgive and forget ; 
but on the unfortunate day when this had happened, the land- 
lord had made use of an expression which touched that chord 
which had been wounded. His countenance altered in a mo- 
ment, his whole feelings became changed, his jealousy was 
again roused, but still he did not intend to murder. He walked 
with his wife ; not a word passed for some time ; the expres- 
sion of the landlord was rankling in his heart, and he asked 
what words the man had used ; the wife would not answer, 
and in a moment of uncontrolled jealous, drunken passion, he 
had drawn the knife from his pocket, and had acted in the 
manner which had been related to them. 

Mr. Justice Talfourd having summed up, the jury returned 
a verdict of guilty, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and 
the prisoner was sentenced to be transported for life. 

The learned judge told the young woman who had rendered 
such assistance, that he could not let her go without saying 
how much they were all indebted to her for the great courage 
she had displayed ; he had never heard of any one acting so 
well. He had the power of awarding a small sum to a person 
for apprehending a felon, and he should, therefore, in this case, 
award her £5, and he hoped she would purchase some trifle 
that might be kept by her and her family in remembrance of 
her courageous act." — Observer, Mai^ch Sth, 1852. 

The following case was before one of the magistrates' 
sessions in the city during the last month ; and it affords 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 279 

you another fine specimen of a cowardly and ruffian wife- 
bruiser : 

"At Worship street, on Thursday, George Snowden, a cabi- 
net-maker, was charged with brutal conduct to his wife. The 
wife, a pale, delicate woman, said she had been ten months 
married, and during that time her husband had so continually 
ill-treated her, that she sank under it, and was seized with brain 
fever and sent to an hospital. Typhus fever supervened, and 
after being in the hospital six weeks, she was slowly recovering, 
when the prisoner called and promised to treat her kindly if 
she returned home. He so strongly entreated her that she 
consented, and left the hospital, against the advice of the sur- 
geons, a week before she ought to have been discharged. The 
prisoner, however, continued his ill-treatment, and on the pre- 
ceding evening, at her father's house in Boston street. Hack- 
ney, he made himself so disagreeable as to cause a few words, 
and in a violent passion he demanded the key of his house, and 
said that if she set a foot in doors that night, he would break 
her neck down stairs. She refused to give the key, and he left 
her father's without it, but immediately returned and ordered 
her to look for something he had left behind him. She looked 
for it, but could not find it, and on telling him so at the door, 
as he would not come in, he struck her senseless to the ground 
with a violent blow in the eye, and the back of her head was 
injured by falling on the floor. From his constant threats her 
life was not safe. 

Richard Barnfeather, the wife's father, a respectable, grey- 
headed man, aged 60, said that, bad as his wife's account was, 
she had concealed the worst part ; for, when witness, on hear- 
ing her screams, went to the parlor, he found her prostrate on 
the floor from another blow from the prisoner. Witness inter- 
posed to protect her, and the prisoner pulled ofiP his coat and 
challenged him to fight, although he knew that witness labored 
under many infirmities. 'My wife and an aged mother,' said 
the witness, 'are quite ill from his conduct; his conduct is 
most cowardly and outrageous, and any means you could de- 
vise for putting a stop to it would be a boon to us. For ten 
months we have had no peace; he has destroyed his wife's 
clothing, driven her to the hospital with inflammation and 
typhus — illness occasioned entirely by his provoking conduct, 
and, although she had always before her marriage, been strong 
and healthy, she is now so weak that her feet would scarcely 



280 THE SLAVEHOLDEK ABEOAD ; OE, 

support her to this court. In fact, he has almost worried her 
to death.' 

John Richardson, complainant's brother-in-law, and a much 
less man than the prisoner, said that when the prisoner struck 
his wife senseless he ran away, and witness stepped over her 
body, pursued him, overtook him at a baker's shop, and took 
him by the collar. The prisoner immediately put up his hand, 
and said, * I will go quietly anywhere with you, if you will not 
strike me.' Witness held him till a constable came, and then 
gave him in charge. The prisoner pleaded aggravation, and 
treated the matter very lightly. 

Mr. Hammill said : Your whole conduct has been what might 
be expected from such a man, and only proves that cowards 
who practise such brutality upon their wives always shrink 
from the slightest injury to themselves. It is a very bad case, 
and you will go to the House of Correction for six months, with 
hard labor, and at the expiration of that time, you must put in 
two substantial bail in £20 each for your peaceable behavior 
for the further term of six months, or remain committed in 
default." — Observer, December l^th, 1853. 

If you should suspect, as I did at first, that such dis- 
graceful violence is confined to the very lowest classes 
among this people, you will have your mind disabused of 
this impression by the following, among other cases. You 
will find the throat- cutting passion as strong in this per- 
son, who was probably entitled to write himself gentle- 
man, as in some of the laborers and artizans whom we 
have had under review. 

"ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WIFE, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. 

At Bow street, on Wednesday, William Entwistle Willis, a 
law writer, 61 years of age, was brought up in custody from 
King's College Hospital, charged with stabbing his wife in the 
throat, and subsequently attempting to commit suicide, on 
Christmas day last. Mary Willis, the prosecutrix, of 5 Lee's 
buildings, Chancery lane, stated that she had been married to 
the prisoner about twenty-three years, and within twelve months 
after her marriage, he was committed for seven days from the 
Hatton Garden police court for assaulting her with a poker. 
They had lived together very unhappily ever since, and had 
had six children. For the last three or four years they had 
slept in separate beds, and for more than eleven months past 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 285 



LETTEK XXX. 

BARBAROUS AND SHOCKING ILL-TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN 
ENGLAND — NEW CHRISTMAS SPORTS, WHERE THE NOSES OF 
WOMEN, ONLY, GET SMASHED, AND THEIR EYES KNOCKED 

OUT ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE UPON A WOMAN A YOUNG GIRL 

OUTRAGED — A WOMAN SHOT BY HER LOVER BUCK FINDS 

THE DIFFICULTY OF UNDERSTANDING ^' THE WAYS'' OF 
ENGLISHMEN INCREASING — A LONDON MAGISTRATE CERTI- 
FIES TO THE CHIVALRIC TREATMENT OF WOMEN BY AME- 
RICANS. 

London, February 18th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — The savage violence to which I have 
been calling your attention is not perpetrated upon their 
wives only by Englishmen. It manifests itself in the 
treatment which the weaker sex generally receives at the 
hands of those who should be their protectors. I will 
make it my business now to send you some specimens of 
as brutal and inhuman treatment of the women by the 
men of this country as ever occur in the most barbarous 
nations of the world. Indeed, I know not that any re- 
ports of the most degraded and barbarous tribes on our 
globe furnish such evidence of revolting and shocking 
inhumanity to the women of the land. 

I am afiflid, Major, that I shall weary you with so 
many horrible pictures of savage and bloody deeds ; but 
I have used strong language in the charge which I have 
brought against this English people, and I must make out 
my case, and sustain my assertions, at the risk of a trial 
to your nerves. 

That I have not been influenced by prejudice in making 
these charges and assertions, is sufficiently proven, I hope, 
by the facts which I have submitted for your considera- 
tion. To prove that I have not been so influenced, and 
that I have kept within the bounds of moderation in the 
language I have employed, I further call as a witness an 



286 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

Englislimaii; the editor of a London journal; and I fur- 
nish you with what he says, in even stronger terms than 
I have used, on this subj ect. 

During the earty part of last year, appeared the follow- 
ing editorial article in the " London Observer." It was 
the honest outburst of a just indignation, excited by some 
of the shocking cases of barbarity and cruelty which had 
been reported as having occurred a short time previously, 
and during the Christmas holidays. To some of these I 
shall probably hereafter call your attention. 

"new CHRISTMAS SPORTS. 

In ancient days, when wassail ruled the land, it was the 
Christmas custom for our ancestors to belabor one another in 
their cups, until the victor and the vanquished lay insensate 
beneath the table ; in these days, however, we have changed 
all this. Our men of mettle now get drunk as of yore — that 
seems a condition inherent in Anglo-Saxon humanity ; but 
they go on safer grounds of quarrel, for at present they belabor 
only defenceless and unoffending women. In fact, as regards 
what Winifred Jenkins terms 'the fair sect,' the London of 
this day, especially in seasons of general rejoicing, is even 
worse tiian the London of the days of the Spectator ; for if 
the town had then its Mohawks, who ' pinked' the passers by 
secundem artem (always be it understood, only those who 
wore breeches), it has now its brutal ruffians, who, too cautious 
or too cowardly to ' ruffle' with their fellow-men, vent all their 
villanous instincts upon the weaker portion of the creation, 
smashing their noses, knocking out their eyes, and breaking 
their limbs ad libitum. • 

What is worse, these ferocious scoundrels — more brutal in 
this respect than the wild beast — commit those atrocities, 
which, it is no exaggeration to state, are unparalleled even in 
the annals of savagery, with comparative impunity. A rascal 
in broad-cloth, for example — he cannot be called a man — is 
brought before a police magistrate for defacing the features 
of a poor young woman whom he encounters in the streets for 
the first time, as he, staggers along, reeling under the weight 
of strong drink, with which he is gorged to repletion. For 
this he pleads drunkenness as an excuse ; but there stands the 
poor creature, disfigured for ever — her nose broken, her eye 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 287 

smashed ; and all his apologies cannot restore her the sight of 
the one, or the symmetry of the other. Of course the magis- 
trate is all virtuous indignation, and he reads, belike, a homily 
upon the vice of intoxication, which the scarcely sobered 
scoundrel in broad-cloth probably does not comprehend ; and 
the victim of his brutality sobs and cries as if her heart would 
break, even for her butcher — 'sweet sensibility of woman's 
nature,' &c. ; and every one, even the callous jailor of the 
court, is prepared to hear the maximum punishment awarded 
as sentence — and * serve the fellow right,' as they all say. But 
lo and behold, it all ends in fumo — ' words, words, words' — 
'Pay a fine of 40s., or go to prison for two months,' is the 
magisterial alternative offered to the scoundrel at the bar ; 
and as the scoundrel at the bar, quite delighted with the option, 
clinks his cash upon the counter of the shop — begging the 
magistrate's pardon, it must be a shop, where justice is sold, 
and passes out of custody into a condition of undeserved free- 
dom, he chuckles at the police, probably 'tips' them 'a little 
sixpence,' and leaves the shop — or court — in triumjjh, without 
even casting a remorseful glance at the cowering creature, 
who, in the expressive language of the poor, he has * made an 
object of for life." 

Ydu will not wonder at this strong language, when 
you come to learn something of other cases than those 
alluded to by this writer, as well as something more of 
the details of some of the '' New Christmas Sports " 
to which he does refer. 

What, for example, do you think of the following ? If 
the fiends from the bottomless pit were unchained .and. 
turned loose upon earth, do you think they could get up 
a scene more strikingly in character ? 

" MOST ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE. 

At the Chester Assizes, on Friday, before Mr. Baron Mar- 
tin, Richard Kear, twenty-four, James James, eighteen, George 
Charles, twenty-two, Thomas Stephens, twenty-one, and 
Thomas James, twenty, colliers in the Forest of Dean, were 
indicted for having violated the person of Mary M'Carthy, on 
the night of Tuesday, the 29th of July, at the parish of Lyd- 
ney. This case was peculiarly atrocious. The prosecutrix, 



288 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

an Irish woman, aged thirty-fivo, and not at all handsome, left 
Ireland seven years ago, and had lived as a servant for some 
time in London, and lately went to Cardiff and Bristol to look 
after a brother, who, she was told, worUed on some of the rail- 
way lines, and as she travelled alone, she subsisted by some- 
times working at needle-work for the country people, and oc- 
casionally by haymaking. Whilst going from Cliepstow to 
Gloucester, on the 29th of July, passing through the Forest 
of Dean about two o'clock, A. M., by a bye road leading to 
the main road, she was very weak and ill ; and not knowing 
her way, got benighted in the forest, and went towards a fire, 
which turned out to be in an uncovered hovel near the month 
of a coalpit. Exhausted with fatigue, cold, and hunger, slie 
lay down near the fire, and shortly afterwards two of Uie pri- 
soners came and spoke to her. She told them she was very 
ill, and asked for a drink of water. They told her to go to 
the Nag's Head public house, one hundred yards off, where 
she could get water in the yard. She got up and struggled 
to the yard, but could find no water there, and, being a stranji-er, 
without money, she did not like to go into the house, and turned 
back towards the fire. In returning, two men and a woman 
met her. They said that if she went down the road she could 
get some water. She was going down, when Kear came up, 
pretended to compassionate her, put a shawl round her-neck, 
and told her that if she went back he would bring her some 
water. Believing that he pitied her, she Avent back to the 
fire, and Kear returned with another man, who brought some 
water to her in a pitcher. It appeared that a club of colliers 
was that night drinking at tiie Nag's Head, and when she 
drank the water, they all came about her, and asked, was she 
better? She was frightened, and said, *No.' Kear then said, 
' There is a house here ; I am master of it ; nobody shall inter- 
fere with you.' She said she would rather stay at the fire, 
being cold and ill. George Charles then jumped up and said 
she should go. She saw them whispering. Kear said she 
should go. She refused as often as twenty times. Kear and 
Charles then ordered the two men beside her to take her into 
the cabin. One of the men was James, the other was not in 
court ; he fetched the water. Charles took a shovel, held it 
over her head, and said he would burn her in the fire if she did 
not go in, and that one person was burnt there before. An- 
other said tliere was. There were nine or ten men there. 
They then took her in like a prisoner. There was a large fire 
in the cabin. Charles brousrht in two shovels of red "coals. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 289 

Kcar opened the door. Charles ^<'a]ked out when lie ])nt on 
tlie coals. Kear stood outside, and some one locked the door. 
James and the man who fetched the water remained inside. 
That mnn then came opposite to her. James sat by her side 
and held her arms behind her back. The prosecutor then de- 
tailed her sufferings from the nine men, whilst they ill-used her. 
She cried out 'murder,' and he and those outside laughed at 
lier. Jjimes James acted with peculiar barljarity, the revolt- 
ing details of which the witness described. Stephens and 
Tliomas James acted with a little more mercy. Only five of 
the men are yet arrested. James James was such a brute, that 
not content with the outrages by himself and eight others, he 
wcjit to the Nag's Head, and endeavored to rouse up another 
collier to assault her, but who was so drunk that he (;ould not 
be awakened. He afterwards deposed to that fact. By this 
time day was dawning, and slie was scarcely able to move. 
She sat against a form, and Kear came in and said she might 
stop in the cabin till seven in the morning, and he would give 
her the key, and she might lock the door on the inside, but 
George Charles came in, seized a shovel, and said he would 
' kill her if she did not leave.' She went out down the road. 
Thomas Stephens and three others came up and said, 'Well, 
missus, what is the matter with you ?' She said, ' You know 
well ; you have almost killed me.' She went towards a house, 
and Stephens said he would kill her if she went towards it. 
She met a woman, and afterwards went to a hayrick and lay 
down ; she was afterwards taken to the Westburn-on-Severn 
Workhouse. — Cross-examined : Has a child ; is not married ; 
was six or seven weeks in Bristol. Has a brother on the rail- 
ways, and was going to look for him. — Anne Jenkins deposed 
that she met the j)rosecutrix on the road about five o'clock in 
the morning, with her hands on her stomach, crying dreadfully, 
and saying she had been almost torn to pieces. — William Elli- 
son, policeman, found prosecutrix at three or four in the after- 
noon of that day lying on a hayrick, and so weak as to be un- 
able to stand. A woman gave her a little wine, and witness 
had her removed to the workhouse. — The surgeon of the work- 
house deposed to her exhausted state, and to the shocking 
lacerations slie suffered, esi)ecially from James James using his 
hands in a brutal manner. — For the defence, 31r. Cooke ad- 
dressed the jury, and called a witness who knew one of the 
prisoners for three months, and gave him a character for that 
l)eriod. — Tiie judge summed up, and the jury, after one 
minute's deliberation, found all the prisoners Guilty. — The 
25 T 



290 THE SLAVEHOLDER AlUUWP ; 01!. 

judge said the olTonee was the most al)omiunl>h^ he Imd ever 
i\oard proved in a eourt of justice. Iliui \\o\ the hnv been 
altered, he woidd have left theui all for execution, excej^t 
Ste}>]iens and I'homas James, ^Yho, bad ns they were, treated 
the woman with some little Idudu-ess. Richard Kear. James 
.lames, and Georg-e Charles, were then sentenced to transpor- 
tation for life, and Thomas Stephens, and Thomas James, to 
transportation for iifteen vears." — Observer, Augud 18//», 
l.^ol. 

A low days later, the following case, of similar, if not 
of such intense atrocity, occurred. The ruffian was tried 
and convicted in the Central Criminal Court. 

"CENTl^Al. ClUMINAL COURT. 

A Jliscreanf. — On Tuesday, in the Third Court, Thomas 
Spurrier, twenty, a glass-blower, was indicted before Russell 
Gnruey for nnlawfully inflicting on Sarah Elizabeth Brown, 
grievous bodily harm, by violently assaulting and beating her. 
The prosecutrix, a young woman apparently about eighteen 
vears of age. having been sworn, sta.ed that she was a nnrser}'- 
inaid, and resided at No. 6 Anne place, Ball's pond. On the 
evening of the 2-d of July, at about five o'clock in the after- 
noon, she w^is going along the broad path near Hornsey AYood 
House. She saw^ the prisoner and two other young men in a 
held close by. There w^ere two young women ahead of her 
on the same path. After she had passed down the lane in the 
wood, she stopped to look round, when some one came up and 
struck her a violent blow on the ear. She turned round and 
saw that it w\ns the prisoner, and he immediately struck her 
another and more violent blow on the eye, wdiich knocked her 
down. Tiie prisoner then fell on to her with great violence, 
sticking his knees on her stomach so as to nearly deprive her 
of her senses. He then continued to behave in the most in- 
famous manner. She struggled as nnich as her exhausted con- 
dition would permit of to prevent the prisoner from accom- 
plishing the purpose for which he had evidently attacked her. 
Prisoner had by this lime dragged her some short distance 
into the wood, holding her all the time by the throat, and en- 
deavoring to stifle her cries by squeezing her tightly. Find- 
ing that she still resisted him he drew a large clasp knife from 
his pocket, and with the most violent and disgusting language 
eaid he would cut her head oflf if she did not submit to h"s 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO E>sGLAND. 291 

desires. Some boys corniiii^ up at the time, the prisoner re- 
linquished his hold of her and ran away, throwing away the 
knife b(,'f(;re he was secured. Her no.se bled very profusely ; 
her eyes were swollen, and she was in great pain from the treat- 
ment she had experienced, and since that period she had been 
su))ject to fits arising out of tlie fright and ill-treatment, and 
was still very unwell. In answer to Mr. O'Brien, the prose- 
cutrix said that she had not been drinking with the prisoner, 
nor was he known to her in any way. Two other witnesses 
having deposed to similar facts, the jury found the prisoner 
Guilty, and he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. — 
The prisoner shed tears on hearing his sentence." — Observer, 
September Is/, 1851. 

In the course of the year 1852, the following curious 
case occurred : 



"A WOMAN SHOT BY HER LOVER. 

A crime was perpetrated on Friday week at Newport, which, 
it is feared, will terminate in the death of the victim — a middle- 
aged, handsome woman, named Ethoridge, who has been shot 
at by her sweetheart, named Samuel Greening, formerly the 
guard of a coach, and latterly the assistant of Miss Etheridge's 
blind father, who keeps a public house and a large market- 
garden a short distance from the town of Newport. It appears 
that Greening had long paid his addresses to Miss Etheridge, 
who is his cousin, and being a resident in the same house, fre- 
quently gave her occasion to remonstrate with him on his dis- 
sipated habits, he being a member of a band, from whose per- 
formance he frequently came home drunk. She refused, it is 
stated, to be married to him on the ground of these habits. 
This would appear to have caused a fit of jealousy, under the 
effects of which he resorted to drink. For two or three days 
last week he is stated to have been intoxicated. A continuous 
quarrel between himself and Miss Etheridge w^as the result. 
On the day previous to the shocking occurrence he was ob- 
served examining a pistol, which Mi.ss Etheridge kept by her, 
ill consequence of the garden being sometimes visited by plun- 
derers, whom she (being a daring woman) would have shot at, 
it is supposed, had any come within reach of the house. Green- 
ing was seen trying a cap on the pistol, and pretending to fire 
up the chimney. The pistol was afterwards found to be missing 
from the place where it was usually kept. On the evening in 



1^92 THE SLAVEHOLDER AJiKuAD ; OK, 

question, Greening, still iiinler the effects of intoxication and 
jealousy, was again quarrelling- witli his sweetheart, and for a 
moment or two was missed iVom the room where Miss Ethe- 
ridge and an assistant gardener were seated at a table. On 
Greening's return, he walked up and down the room again, 
still bickering with his cousin, when suddenly he rushed up to 
where she was sitting, presented a pistol at her, and lired. The 
unfortunate woman's shrieks, as she fell down, awoke her father, 
who had retired to rest ; and when assistance was procured, 
she was taken up insensible, bleeding profusely from the mouth, 
ear, and cheek, on the left side of the face ; the contents of the 
pistol, which were supposed to be shots or hard wadding, 
having entered just below the left ear, fractured the left jaAV, 
and smashed some of the teeth, passing afterwards through 
the mouth. She was at once conveyed to bed, and Mr. Wool- 
lett, surgeon, one of the borough magistrates, was called from 
Newport. Greening still remained about the house in a half- 
drunken, sullen humor, till he was apprehended by the borough 
police, and lodged in the station-house cell. The prisoner has 
since stated that he was not aware the pistol was loaded, 
though this does not agree with the fact of his snapping and 
trying it in the chimney on the previous day. He is also stated 
to have told his victim that, if she did not have him, but mar- 
ried another, it should be no good to her — he would prevent 
her happiness. The woman, when consciousness was in some 
measure restored, in tlie course of the night frequently expressed 
a desire to see Greening, and appeared to feel deeply from the 
consideration that he would have to suifer in prison for what 
he had done. Both her father and herself, it was thought, 
would further avoid giving evidence against the prisoner, if 
possible. On Saturday the prisoner was brought to the bar 
of the police. Evidence was taken to establish the charge of 
wilfully shooting, but the case had not concluded when our 
despatch left." — Observe?^ September 21th, 1852. 

I wish you could have seen Buck's face Avhen I read 
the last case, above quoted, in his hearing. No deep-sea 
line can be found, on a thousand British decks, long 
enough to tathom the unutterable disgust which was de- 
picted in his honest iace. 

Buck. ''Lead nie into the light of that a little, ef you 
please, Marster. Did I onderstand you to say hit was a 
onmarried man that did that thino-^ sir ?" 

Ml/self. ''Yes." 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 293 

Buck. " Well, raaly ! An he shot his sweetheart 'thout 
bein married to her ?" 

Myself. " So this report says." 

Buck. " Well, well, well ! I been all along sorter per- 
suadin myself thar was some sense in these Inglishmen 
killin thar wives, becase that made way for new ones. 
But how a man with breeches on, 'thout sich a temtation, 
could shoot a 'oman, an she his sweetheart, too, is a 
huckleberry over my persimmon. I give it up." 

Accustomed as we are in Georgia to treat the sex so 
differently, I think that you will heartily join in Buck's 
honest indignation, and agree with him that such a case 
presents a moral puzzle to any one brought up in our 
State. It is difficult for such an one to express the intense 
contempt and disgust he must feel for the great lubberly 
coward who could so treat a woman. 

About three months subsequently, a man named Ga- 
ball, who called himself an American citizen, was charged 
before one of the magistrates of the city with having 
committed an assault upon a young woman. He may 
have been an American citizen, but I strongly suspect he 
was only a naturalized citizen — being, as I should sup- 
pose from his name, a foreigner by birth ; hence, perhaps, 
he was jeered (as he said he was), when he claimed to be 
an American citizen. Certain it is, as you and I could 
almost swear, Major, he was not a native of our Southern 
States. What the magistrate says as to the feelings of 
our countrymen towards women, I believe to be true, as 
a general rule, in all parts of the country. I know it to 
be especially true in the slaveholding States. 

"AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. 

At Marlborough street, on Wednesday, James Gaball, who 
described himself as an American citizen, was charj^ed before 
Mr. Bingham, with committing au unprovoked assault on Miss 
Mary Gray. It appeared that a party of five friends and rela- 
tives, amongst whom was 3Iiss Mary Gray, of 103 Regent 
street, were on their way home from the play, when defendant 
came up to her and addressed some fiithy language to her, and 
then laid hold of her ; but her brother came up and interfered 
for her protection. Defendant then struck her with his stick 
25* 



'^'Jl THE SLA VEHOLDEE ABIiOxiU ; UlL, 

a violent blow on her head, which hurt her much, and cut her 
head, rendering her almost insensible. The defendant, in 
answer to the charge, said he was first accosted by the party, 
and on his saying he was an American, he was jeered by them. 
Finding he was attacked by five persons, he defended himself 
with his stick, and in doing so might have struck Miss Gray. 
It was said he was not sober. Mr. Bingham would by no 
means allow that excuse to have any weight, for it was a known 
fact that quite a chivalrous feeling towards females was dis- 
played by Americans. He should inflict the highest fine the 
law allowed, £5, or two months' imprisonment. The fine was 
paid." — Observer, December 21th, 1852. 

I will resume the subject ; but must now conclude, with 
the assurance that I am, dear Major, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 
P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTEK XXXI. 

BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION 

OP WOMEN AND CHILDREN LORD GRANVILLE's JEST UPON 

THE SUBJECT — THE WHITE SLAVE IN ENGLAND — ILLUSTRA- 
TIONS OF EARL Granville's jest — price of insulting 

AND ASSAULTING A LADY A PUGILIST BRUTALLY BEATS 

SEVERAL YOUNG WOMEN SAVAGE ASSAULT UPON A WOMAN 

ATTEMPT TO STRANGLE A WOMAN AN EDITOR DIS- 
COURSES ON CRUELTY TO WOMEN. 

London, March 27th, 1854. 

Deae Majoe : — This brutal ill-treatment of women by 
Englishmen had reached such a pitch of horrible infamy 
as to force the matter upon the attention of the British 
Parliament, and to call for some attempt by legislation to 
curb the devilish tempers, and restrain the appetite for 
blood, in which it has its origin. Accordingly, early in 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 295 

last year, leave was asked to bring in a bill for this pur- 
pose, some account of which you will find in the following 
extract. You will also find in it a condensed statement, 
by a member of Parliament, of some of the disgusting 
barbarities which the bill is intended to restrain, and it 
will save me the work of sending them to you. 

''ASSAULTS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 

Mr. Fitzroy, in moving for leave to bring in a bill for the 
better protection of women and children, said that no one 
could read the public journals without being almost daily struck 
with horror and amazement at the cruel and brutal injuries in- 
flicted upon members of the weaker sex by persons whom one 
blushed to call Englishmen [hear, hear]. Nothing but the 
most ignominious punishment could adequately mark the man- 
ner in which every right-minded individual would regard such 
outrages ; but, unfortunately, the summary powers granted to 
magistrates to punish such offences were confined to a penalty 
of £5, or in default of payment, to two months' imprisonment 
without hard labor, — a punishment which in such cases it 
would be absurd to look upon as in any degree a sufficient 
retribution [hear, hear]. He would quote a few cases in 
proof of this remark. On the 8th of December, Thomas Ben- 
nett was brought up at Bow street, charged with assaulting 
his wife. He was living separately from her, and, meeting her 
in the street, he called her an opprobrious name, knocked her 
down, and beat her. The next day he went to her residence, 
beat her, and, pulling out a knife, attempted to cut her throat. 
In defending herself, her fingers were severely cut. The 
magistrate, doubting whether the wife would appear at the 
sessions, fined the defendant £5, or in default, committed him 
for two months, but without hard labor [hear, hear]. In an- 
other case the defendant's wife, fearing that her husband would 
be enticed away to a public house, went out to him, and beg- 
ged him not to go. Shortly afterwards he went in and beat 
her in a most brutal manner, alleging that she had made him 
appear little in the eyes of his companions. He, too, was 
fined £5, or two months' imprisonment. In December, 1851, 
a man was charged with beating his wife with a poker; and 
in another case a husband was charged with having grossly 
beaten and ill-used his wife, because he had missed a small 
piece of cloth, of the value of three pence. On the 23d of 
November, Susannah Preston appeared against a man with 



296 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

whom she had been living as wife. He had beaten her with 
the buckle end of a strap, until her head and face, her arms 
and shoulders were one mass of bruises, and covered with 
blood. A ring on her finger was actually beaten into the flesh 
quite to the bone, and when she was taken to the hospital it 
had to be cut out [sensation]. In all these cases the same fine 
of £5 only was inflicted. He would only mention one other 
case. About half-past twelve one night, the attention of the 
police, in a street in Mile End-road, was attracted by cries of 
murder. They went to the room whence they proceeded, and 
found a woman sitting in a chair, and attended by several other 
women. She had a large cut over her left eye, both her eyes 
were blackened, and she had sustained such severe internal 
injuries from her assaulter having jumped upon her, that she 
v/as obliged to be taken to an hospital. Both parties were 
sober. When she appeared at the police office, she represented 
the assault as having been a very slight one, and the magis- 
trates, thinking it would be very difiicult to induce her to pro- 
secute him at the sessions, committed the defendant for two 
months. Such proceedings could only have the eff'ect of bring- 
ing the law into contempt, and of producing a prejudice against 
the magistrates, as if they could have inflicted heavier penal- 
ties [hear, hear]. Nothing could be less satisfactory than the 
power of committing the parties to the sessions ; because, in 
addition to the natural placability of the sex, women were 
liable to be coaxed, or intimidated, and even forcibly withheld 
from appearing in court ; besides which, as the marks of vio- 
lence would be in a great measure obliterated, the courts might 
be disposed to take a less serious view of such cases than if 
the adjudication was prompt and on the spot [hear, hear]. 
Now, the first object of the bill would be to give the magis- 
trates power to inflict a fine of £20, or six months' imprison- 
ment — a no greater power than they already possessed to 
avenge the wrongs of a tortured poodle or an ill-used cat 
[hear, hear]. It was also proposed to take away the power 
of removing indictments for this species of misdemeanor by 
certiorari, except on affidavits stating that a fair trial could 
not be had in the court whence the indictment was attempted 
to be removed. He anticipated great opposition to this clause 
from the members of a learned and powerful profession. A 
similar proposed enactment had been introduced by the late 
Attorney-General into the Metropolitan Grand Jury Bill last 
year, but by the pressure of the bar he was induced to with- 
draw it. He (Mr. Fitzroy) felt bound to press the clause, not- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAlNl). 297 

withstanding the objections of the legal profession, because 
now that there was a court of criminal appeal, he thought 
that the power of removal by certiorari was useless and mis- 
chievous [hear, hear]. Another clause would place the for- 
feited recognizances for not appearing to answer indictments 
on exactly the same footing as those for appearing and refusing 
to give evidence. Lastly, he should propose a clause to enable 
the Secretary of State to order a prisoner to be brought up in 
order to give evidence, and thus avoid the expense of a writ 
of habeas corpus [hear, hear]. He hoped that all these im- 
provements would meet with the approbation of the house, 
and in conclusion he begged to move for leave to bring in the 
bill [cheeYsy— Observer, March Uth, 1853. 



When this bill readied the House of Lords, Earl Gran- 
ville moved the second reading, as follows : 



"AGGRAVATED ASSAULT BILL. 

The Earl of Granville moved the second reading, and cen- 
sured the cruelty at present observable — a cruelty which it was 
necessary to repress, although the old proverb said that "A 
woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more they are beaten, the 
better they be" [a laugh]. The punishment on conviction of 
aggravated assaults by this bill will be six months' imprison- 
ment or £20 ^ne.''— Observer, May SOth, 1853. 

I have learned to entertain sentiments of high respect 
for Lord Granville, as well as for several other noblemen 
in that venerable assembly, the House of Lords. But 
that respect was not increased by this miserable jest of 
the noble earl, and the evident relish with which the per- 
siflage was received. It was worse than frivolous, it must 
be confessed. It was too much in the jaunty, devil-may- 
care vein of Lord Palmerston — this sorry sporting with 
so serious a matter — this dance, as it were, upon the 
brink of a volcano. It serves, however, as another proof 
of the prevailing tone of sentiment in England, when 
senators, in the highest ranks of her nobility, thus trifle 
as they legislate upon this horrible subject. 

The dull couplet, too, so enjoyed by these noble and 
reverend legislators, is itself an exponent of the disgrace- 
ful wife-bruising, woman-beating characteristic which we 



2yS THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

have been considering ; and it is but a poetic expression, 
I suppose, of a great national proclivity and passion. 

There are Englishmen, however, who not only are wit- 
nesses to the magnitude of this great social evil, but with 
passionate eloquence denounce it, and (unlike the House 
of Lords, but like to Mr. Fitzroy and others in the Com- 
mons), when dealing with the subject, treat it in a man- 
ner worthy of its importance. Take, for example, the 
following, from the " Observer " of March 14th, 1853. 



"THE WHITE SLAVE IN ENGLAND. 

The white slave has been often heard of in this country, but 
it is only now that the general public is coming to any know- 
ledge of that ere while apocryphal entity. Recent facts have 
indubitably proved that the white slave in England is woman. 
In no country in the world — among no people, however im- 
bruted — in no state of society, however savage — are the weaker 
sex treated with more inhumanity than in this, the highly-civi- 
lized, Christian capital of that highly-civilized Christian aggre- 
gation of nations, known as the United Kingdom. 

If proof of this fact be needed, it is amply furnished in the 
bill just laid before Parliament by Mr. Fitzroy for the protec- 
tion of females against the frightful outrages to which they are 
daily subjected — one tithe of which be it said in passing never 
come to the ears of the general public. The increase in this 
form of crime has been so steady and so progressive — it has 
assumed of late such a violent and aggravated character — that 
even the executive, slow as it ever is to lead, has been com- 
pelled by the magnitude and enormity of the evil to take the 
initiative for its suppression. It is perfectly possible that even 
at the best times there was always a good deal of coarse bru- 
tality about the boasted true British character, and it is patent 
to all persons that savage domestic tyranny is no new pheno- 
menon in English legal annals ; but it cannot be doubted that 
cruel crimes upon women, chiefly perpetrated by their husbands 
and paramours, are daily augmenting, and that these unhappy 
creatures are every recurring year reduced to a lower and still 
lower condition in the social scale, for the want of adequate 
pi'otectioa against such outrage. That this protection should 
be proposed by a member of the Government is therefore 
highly to his credit. 
.Lest, however, it should even for a moment be supposed that 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 299 

the object did not demand legislation, a few facts, in addition 
to those which will be found enumerated in Mr. Fitzroy's speech 
on introducing the bill in question to Parliament, are herewith 
furnished to the reader. They are, one and all, derived from 
the police reports of the metropolis ; and they refer, one and 
all, to the brief period of time included between the 1st of De- 
cember, 1852, and the 16th of February of the present year. 
The first is that of a fellow who beat his wife brutally, after 
keeping her in a state of starvation. Then follow, in rapid 
succession, an Irishman, who stabs his wife with a table-knife 
in the arm, having previously attempted the life of one of their 
children ; a pugilist, at Hammersmith, who is convicted of a 
most ruffianly assault on a publican's wife ; a ruffian, v/ho kicks 
his wife brutally on her body, until she is a mass of wounds ; a 
blackguard, who beats his mother with a heavy hammer on 
every part of her person; a scoundrel, who makes indecent 
proposals to a poor little girl of eleven years of age, and when 
the innocent child refuses his solicitations, knocks her down 
with a heavy stick, and cruelly beats her ; a rascal who ham- 
mers his wife on the head with a hammer, inflicts several 
wounds, and fractures five ribs; a 'Protestant,' who beats his 
wife because she is a ' Catholic,' constantly tearing her clothes 
and assaulting her, and inflicting blows on the face and head 
until she is covered with blood ; a brute, who in broad day- 
light commits a filthy act of indecency, accompanied by an 
assault on a young lady, and upon being remonstrated with, 
immediately knocks her down by a violent blow on the face ; 
a savage, who assaults his wife, whom he nearly murders with 
a thick stick, because his supper was not ready (on a previous 
occasion his brutal violence had kept the woman in the hospital 
for thirteen weeks) ; a knave, who assaults a poor prostitute, 
without the slightest provocation, walking up to her, and 
knocking her down with great violence, and regretting that 
* he had not done for her,' as he ' had often threatened to do ;' 
a monster, who thrusts his tobacco-pipe into the eye of a poor 
woman who came to fetch her husband home from the public- 
house ; the keepers of a brothel in Wych street — a man, and 
the woman with whom he cohabited, who" brutally assault the 
servant girl of the house, nearly beating her to death, and who 
are fined <£5 each — the fine being paid by the man, who produced 
a bag of sovereigns ; and, finally, a fellow who throws a poor 
girl, with whom he had cohabited, into the Regent's Canal." 

It is in view of such facts, statements, and confessions 



300 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OB, 

as these, that I say, when I find this people favorably 
inclining towards the perpetrators of such disgraceful 
enormities, or, at best, but turning indifferently from 
them, and concentrating their sympathies on the slaves 
three thousand miles away, that it can only be accounted 
for by putting it upon the broad basis of humbug. Any 
attempt to explain it otherwise involves me in inextricable 
perplexity. 

It is now almost a year since that law was passed. 
During this time I have been watching its operation and 
effects. As I expected, the disease has proved to be too 
deeply seated to be reached by such a remedy. The same 
blood-red flag, inscribed with the words " Brutal Treat- 
ment of Women," or '^Ill-treatment of Women," etc., is 
still kept flying by the journals of the day, as you will 
see by those I send you. Under these inscriptions is still 
to be found an awfal and apparently undiminished list of 
these cruel and disgraceful crimes. The woman-bruisers 
and butchers still continue to maim and to slay, and the 
magistrate still goes on to sermonise about it. Occasion- 
ally he regrets that the clause which allowed flogging had 
been omitted from the bill, as in the following case, for 
example : 

"brutal treatment of women. 

At Guildhall, on Wednesday, James Barrett was charged 
with the following savage assault: — Margaret Tubbs, whose 
eye was frightfully blackened, and the side of her face contused 
and swollen, said she lodged in the same house with the pri- 
soner, and went to his room on Saturday night to call out her 
husband, who was drinking wdth him and his companions. The 
prisoner, with a filthy expression, said, ' He shall not come ; I 
have known your walking the streets more than once, and I'll 
make your husband leave you altogether.' My husband then 
tried to get me away, and pushed me out ; but the prisoner 
immediately rushed towards me, and dragged me by the hair 
of my head into the room. He then struck me on the eye, 
knocked me down and kicked me with his heavy boots repeat- 
edly about the face and body, while I was lying on the ground. 
I screamed for assistance, and had it not been for Mrs. Finni- 
gan, who rescued me from the prisoner's violence, I believe he 
would have murdered me. I am so dreadfully bruised all over 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 301 

my body, that I can neither stand nor sit without experiencing 
great pain in all my limbs. 

Sir. R. W. Carden : ' Who gave you that black eye ? ' 

Complainant : * That gentleman, sir (the prisoner)'. 

Sir R. W. Carden : ' Gentleman ! Don't call him even a man. 
Call him a brute. Such conduct to a woman deserves no 
better title.' 

Two witnesses corroborated the complainant. 

Prisoner : ' It's all false. I never struck her. It was her 
husband that gave her the black eye.' 

The complainant : ' He did not ; he only pushed me out of 
the room.' 

The prisoner called his father and mother, but they rather 
confirmed the complainant's story. 

John Carr was then called for defendant, but his evidence 
was so palpably false, that he was ordered to quit the court. 

The jailor said that defendant was a tailor, who for the 
last twelve years had been frequently in prison for assaults, 
and he had been in the Compter for six weeks for beating his 
wife. 

Sir R. W. Carden regretted that the clause in the act allow- 
ing such persons to be flogged had not been passed by the 
House of Commons. Had he the power, he (Sir William Car- 
den) would have ordered him to be tied to the cart's tail and 
flogged through the town, and he would have placed the 
scourge in the hands of his victim. 

He sentenced him to six months' imprisonment and hard 
labor." — Observer, December l^th, 1853. 

I send you the following, as another beautiful specimen 
from the same paper, of what this attempt at reformation 
lias effected : 

"At Bow street, on Wednesday, Henry Rennet, a carpenter, 
was charged with assaulting his wife. The complainant, whose 
face was sadly disfigured, said she had not lived with the pri- 
soner since his last previous assault, but now contrived to 
maintain herself and her children without his aid. On Wed- 
nesday morning she accidentally met him in Drury lane. Her 
face was tied up at the time, and he asked her what was the 
matter ? She said she had a face-ache, and was passing on to 
avoid him, when he exclaimed, ' I'll make your cheeks ache a 
little more,' and he gave her a blow in the face which knocked 
her down, and raising her head from the ground, he struck her 
26 



302 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, 

a succession of blows on the head with his clenched fist. She 
crawled into a shop, where she was protected from further 
violence. 

Mr. Billington, of Wilson street, Drury lane, deposed to the 
incredible brutality of the assault, and having sheltered the 
woman in his shop. 

The prisoner : It was all her own fault. 

Mr. Henry said this was the seventh time within a short space 
of time that the prisoner had been charged with assaulting his 
wife, and, even now that she had separated herself from him, 
she was not safe from his inhuman treatment. He committed 
him to prison with hard labor for six months, and at the expi- 
ration of that time to find sureties to keep the peace for six 
months. The prisoner, on leaving the dock, said, with a ma- 
lignant leer at his wife, he would settle the matter yet by mur- 
dering her when he got out of prison." 

What a cliarming picture is presented by the above cases 
in illustration of the poetic proverb so felicitously quoted by 
Lord Grranville, and to the delectation of their lordships ! 
How vastly delighted they must be at such striking ap- 
plications of their poetry, fun, and sentiment ! 
. I add a few more such illustrations, which at the same 
time serve to disclose what this bill was worth in afford- 
ing protection to helpless women from the brutality of 
these sanguinary Englishmen. 

"ill-treatment of women — PRICE OF INSULTING AND 
ASSAULTING A LADY. 

At Guildhall, on Tuesday, James Tracy, commercial tra- 
veller to Mr. Robert Wild, of Houndsditch, was charged as 
follows : — Mrs. Walhs said she had been spending the previous 
evening with some friends, and was returning home with her 
daughter at a late hour. At the end of a court on Ludgate- 
hill she directed her daughter to fasten her boot lace ; whilst 
so engaged, the defendant came and puhed up witness' dress. 
She instantly pushed him from her, and told him to go away. 
He then struck her violently in the face, and she gave him in 
custody. The defendant was sober, but the person with him 
was very drunk. Witness' eye was bloodshot, and she was 
very ill during the night. On leaving the witness-box, com- 
plainant fainted, and was carried out of court. The defendant 
said he never touched the lady's dress. He was very drunk, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 303 

and when she slapped his face he certainly did strike, but he 
had offered to apologize. The complainant said that at the 
station she offered to accept an apology, but the defendant 
refused to make one. 

Sir J. Mu8grove said it was a very serious case. It was not 
because ladies are sometimes compelled to go home alone at a 
late hour that they should be assaulted or interfered with. An 
apology should be made to the lady, and the defendant must 
pay 40s. fine, or suffer one month's imprisomjient. The fine 
was paid. 

"COWARDLY ASSAULT. 

At Worship street, on Wednesday, John Anderson, an artist, 
of Church road, De Beauvoir square, was charged as follows : 
Miss Martha Baker, daughter of a tradesman at Hoxton, who 
was dressed in deep mourning, and had her face severely 
bruised, said that on the previous evening she and her sister 
proceeded by omnibus from the house of some relative in Cam- 
den Town, to Islington, and then by another omnibus to the 
bridge in the City road, not liking to take a cab at that hour, 
past eleven o'clock. They were walking the remainder of the 
distance, but when half way down Myrtle street, the defendant 
came up after them, and invited them to take his arm. They 
made no answer, but he endeavored to force his conversation 
on them, and at length forcibly thrust himself in between them. 
Witness said that if he persisted she would give him in charge 
to a constable, and she and her sister ran to the other side of 
the road, but just as she reached the foot pavement, he knocked 
her down with a blow, and she fell, by which her face was in- 
jured, as it now appeared. On getting up, she claimed the 
protection of a gentleman who passed. She never saw the 
prisoner before. Miss Lavinia Baker, complainant's sister, 
corroborated the above. Mr. George Tanner said that when 
passing through the street, he heard loud screams, and, on 
turning round, he saw the complainant lying partly on the 
road and partly on the footpath. The defendant was walking 
oft' quickly, and on witness asking what was the matter, he 
carelessly replied, * Oh ! they are drunk,' and passed on. The 
complainant, however, came up, and claimed witness' protec- 
tion, and a policeman coming also, he gave the prisoner in 
charge. He was somewhat intoxicated, but knew well what 
he was about, and at the station he said he would give any 
compensation that would be accepted. The prisoner, in an 
effeminate, mincing tone, expressed his regret, and said the 



304 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

the only impression he had of the matter was, that he had been 
first struck by one of the ladies, and he gave a blow in reta- 
liation. 

This statement was confuted, and Mr. D'Eyncourt sentenced 
him to £5 fine, or two months' imprisonment. The money not 
being forthcoming, he was locked up." 

" WORSHIP STREET. 

A powerful fellow named Daniel White, who was recognized 
as a notorious pugilist, was charged with having savagely 
assaulted and ill-used several respectable women in the White- 
chapel-road. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner 
had brutally attacked the complainants, and had struck them 
violently, and abused them in the most disgusting language. 
No reason could be assigned for his conduct. The only excuse 
the prisoner had to make was that he was drunk. He was 
sentenced to four months' imprisonment in the House of Cor- 
rection, and required to find bail for his good behavior for the 
further term of six months." — Observer, January 2d, 1854. 

The two cases following afford similar illustrations of 
the workings of this bill in other parts of the kingdom : 

"savage assault. 

John Kidd, a laborer, was committed for trial at the assizes, 
charged with a most savage assault on Catherine Sherry, an 
unfortunate woman with whom he cohabited. The brute, meet- 
ing her in Bannastre street, knocked her down, kicked her 
repeatedly on the head as she lay on the ground, then went to 
a piece of waste ground for a brick, and, returning, struck her 
repeatedly with it on the head. How she escaped death under 
his hands seems a marvel. 

At Leicester, James Bull, aged 19, a farm servant, was in- 
dicted for having attempted to strangle Ann Clarke, the house- 
keeper in the same service, a comely-looking personage, about 
forty years of age. The prisoner had pressed her repeatedly 
to marry him, and, because she refused, went to her bedside 
and got a rope round her neck. He repeated the attempt twice 
the same night ; and, in the intervals between courtship and 
attempted murder, the parties were engaged saying prayers 
and singing hymns. He was convicted and sentenced to fifteen 
years' transportation." — Liverpool Journal, March2bth, 1854. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 305 

It seems to be generally admitted that tliis bill has 
proven to be a failure, and that something else is needed 
as a remedy for this terrible evil, as in the following 
extract : 

" CRUELTY TO WOMEN. 

There can be no question that the new law, making cruelty 
to women, in the shape of aggravated assault, a misdemeanor, 
has practically issued in failure. The records of the police 
courts of the metropolis present an increasing number of cases 
of this degrading offence, which not even the horrors of the 
treadmill, for six months, have been found sufficient to modify, 
still less to repress. Indeed, it may be doubted whether, any- 
where on the face of the globe — in the lowest kraals or the 
most savage cnv ;— the same disgraceful and inhuman brutality 
is committed on woman, which is of daily and hourly occur- 
rence in this, the first city of the world, where monsters, who 
miscall themselves men, smash their wives with pokers, kick 
them till they are senseless, blacken their eyes, break their ribs, 
and vent all the bestial furies of drunkenness in the shape of 
blows, curses, and unmanly and indecent violence. 

Nor is this brutality confined to the class of husbands or the 
class of 'fancy men,' as they are designated, wdio may consider 
themselves in the light of ' chartered wantons,' and act accord- 
ingly ; neither does it seem necessary that the victim of man's 
brutality should be his chattel, and the sharer of his bed and 
board. Maddened with beer and lust, another class of savages 
rage through the streets at nights and attack all manner of 
women they meet : modest or wanton, all are looked on as 
their proper prey. If a woman resists an insulting overture, 
she is smote in the face, disfigured in a moment, and tlien is 
knocked down and trampled on, as a reward for her pudicity ; 
nay even the poor outcasts of the streets are regarded as fair 
game for these murderous scoundrels. Neither honor nor dis- 
honor protects a female ; wife or prostitute, all are the prey 
of the strongest arm, the heaviest foot, the bloodiest license 
of intoxication. 

The worst feature in the case, however, is the fact that among 
the poorer classes, this brutality has come to be regarded as a 
matter of course, even by those who do not themselves practise 
it ; and how bad soever may be the case, as far as bystanders 
of these classes concern themselves in the matter, the perpe- 
trator enjoys perfect impunity. Men ill-use their wives and 
mistresses as svstematicallv and regularlv, and in as cold blood, 
26* ' ' u 



306 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD ; OR, 

as they take their meals, so that savage assault has got to be 
an element in their natural life. It has become to be part of 
the system of their being — it is a recognized economy in their 
existence ; and 'the neighbors' never think of interfering. Hinc 
illoe lachrymoe.''^ — Observer, September 12th, 1853. 

I am afraid that I have exhausted your patience with 
this long letter, Major, and must hasten to subscribe 
myself, 

Respectfully, 

Y'r ob't serv't and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTEE XXXII. 

CRUEL TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY CHARGE 

OF ADMINISTERING GIN TO A CHILD OF SEVEN YEARS — ; 
MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF A BOY NEAR PLYMOUTH A WO- 
MAN THROWS HER SON, AGED SIX YEARS, FROM A THIRD 

FLOOR WINDOW BUCK'S HISTORY OF THIS TRANSACTION 

HE IS SOLICITED TO LEAVE HIS MASTER REFUSES, AND 

SETS FORTH SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF SLAVERY IN 
GEORGIA OVER POVERTY IN ENGLAND. 

London, March 31st, 1854. 

Dear Major : — If I added' nothing to what I have 
already furnished, I think you would be satisfied that I 
have fully proven all that I have asserted in relation to 
the sanguinary character of the British people. But if I 
paused here, you would form but an imperfect idea of 
that blood-lust, as I have termed it, awful as may be the 
proportions of those developments in and by which it now 
appears to you. To know it in all its horrible aspects, 
you must be furnished with proofs of the cruelty with 
which children are treated by the men and women of this 
country. 



BILLY BUCK S VISIT TO ENGLAND. 307 

Such cruelty is altogether unexampled in our country, 
as the causes which there favor and protect our women, also 
protect our children — and I might add, indeed, all inferior 
dependents, to a great extent. Such instances, then, as 
I shall bring to your attention, from their novel and ex- 
traordinary character to you, cannot fail to interest ; and 
when you have read them, you will fully appreciate the 
truth of what my servant said on this subject, in his pe- 
culiar way, to the lady whom he was addressing on the 
evening of the demonstration in favor of Mrs. Stowe, 
made by the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society, at 
Exeter Hall, and mentioned in my letter of June 1st, 
1853. 

I begin with the following: 

"charge of administering gin to a child, seven 
years old. 

At Marylebone office, on Thursday, Hannah Maria Ewens, 
a widow, about 50 years of age, was brought up in custody, 
and placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged under 
the following extraordinary circumstances ; and it will be seen 
from the subjoined evidence that the conduct of a police-ser- 
geant in reference to the affair was of a most inexplicable and 
unsatisfactory nature. Police-constable Ramsey, 57 D, said : 
I live with my family on the first floor of No. 13, Upper Dor- 
chester-place, and the prisoner lives on the second floor. After 
going off night duty I returned home and went to bed at seven 
this morning, and at eight o'clock I heard what I thought to 
be a loud knocking over head, which proceeded from the 
prisoner's room. I sent my little girl Elizabeth, who is not 
yet seven years of age, up stairs, to say that I could get no 
sleep for the noise, and in the course of a few minutes I heard 
something rolling on the floor. I shortly afterwards sent up 
my son to fetch down his sister, and he brouuht her in his 
arms to me, and laid her down in the room. She was quite 
insensible, and was incapable of moving either hand or foot. 
She was perfectly well when I sent her up. I put her to bed, 
and I smelt that she had had gin. After the lapse of an hour, 
finding that she did not get better, I got up and dressed my- 
self, and took her to Dr. Guy, in Dorset place, by whose advice 
I conveyed her instantly in a cab to the Western General Dis- 
pensary, New road. We arrived there at half-past ten. The 



308 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

stomacli-puiiip was applied, and the child was ]3ut into a hot 
bath. I left her at the dispensary, and then repaired to the 
station-house in Molynenx street, where I reported to Sergeant 
Pearce, the acting inspector on duty, what had occurred ; and 
the remark he made was, ' It's not a proper charge ; you can't 
take her into custody, for no person saw her give the child the 
gin.' The child was then in a most dangerous state, which I 
mentioned to the inspector. John Ramsay, complainant's son, 
proved that he found the child as described by the father. 
Prisoner was in bed, and a bottle was standing by. Mr, Bux- 
ton, resident surgeon to the Greneral Dispensary, said : On the 
previous day the child of prosecutor was brought there insen- 
sible. The stomach-pump was applied, and nearly a quart of 
lightish fluid drawn off. The child continued extremely ill all 
the afternoon, and he was obliged to open the jugular vein. 
He still regarded the child's situation as dangerous. But for 
the application of the stomach-pump death must have over- 
taken the child. Osborne, 280 J), said prisoner had admitted 
to him that she had given the child something which would 
make it all over with her. He took her to the station house, 
as she was drunk and incapable of taking care of herself, but 
Sergeant Pearce would not take the charge. Mr. Broughton 
remanded the prisoner till Thursday next. The poor child has 
passed from this mortal world, having died early on Friday 
morning," — Observer, February 2ith, 1851. 

The next extract refers to the murder of a boy near 
Plymouth, and is as follows : 



"MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF A BOY NEAR PLYMOUTH. 

Great excitement has prevailed in the village of Brixton, 
near Plymouth, owing to a rumor that a boy, named John 
Bunker, who was found hanging on a tree in an orchard, had 
been murdered by the son of his master, Mr, Henry Rowe, a 
respectable farmer. W. Rowe, the accused, was arrested on 
Saturday week ; and Mr. Bone,' the coroner, opened an inquest 
on that da}'-, which was resumed on Monda}^ The following 
is the substance of the evidence given : — 

John La vers, a lad in Mr. H. Rowe's employ, said that on 
Friday morning at a quarter to six o'clock, he saw the deceased 
leave the court-yard of the farm house, with a cart drawn by 
two horses. He was in a great hurry, and appeared to be 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 309 

well, and in good spirits. He had a whip, but no rope in his 
hand. About noon the same day Mr. Henry Rowe left his 
work in one of his fields, having heard that something had 
happened to the deceased. 

Thomas Fronde, a policeman, said that he had been informed 
that there was a charge of a horrible crime against W. Rowe ; 
and on Saturday receiving information that he was suspected 
of having murdered John Bunker, he arrested him on both 
charges. The prisoner denied all knowledge of the acts 
charged, and said that the deceased had fetched from the house 
the rope which had been found round his neck. There were 
.marks of coagulated blood on the back of the deceased's right 
and left hand, a scratch on the temple, and blood coming from 
the nose and mouth ; that from the mouth fresher than the 
rest. In the orchard where deceased was found, he saw foot- 
marks corresponding with the prisoner's boots. The prisoner's 
handkerchief and vest had blood marks, some of them fresh, 
and five bullets were in his waistcoat pocket. He said he used 
bullets to kill rabbits. 

The clothes and the blood marks were exhibited to the jury. 

Mr. W. Pattison Mould, surgeon, knew Rowe's family many 
years. At about ten, P. M., on Friday week, the prisoner's 
brother, John, called witness to see deceased's body. It at 
first seemed as if death had been from suffocation. On examin- 
ing the body, he saw on the back of the knuckle of the right 
hand middle finger a streak of dry blood an inch long, and 
three or four spots of blood on the back of the left wrist, such 
as might have been produced by chaps in the hand. The boy 
had been to 'lime,' and the backs of his hands were in a bad 
state ; the right hand very dirty, the left clean. There was 
very little mud on the boots. A mark, as of a blow, was on 
the left temple. There was a blood mark under the division 
of the nostril on the upper lip, and a streak of blood on the 
mouth, extending an inch and a half down the cheek. The 
knees of the trousers were soiled with mud. On minutely ex- 
amining the body, no further external violence was perceptible, 
excepting a slight blood mark under the left ear, proceeding 
from a small chap, and the lob'e of the ear was bruised. No 
blood had efi'used from the ears, and on wiping the blood from 
the upper lip no wounds were visible. The blood had evidently 
escaped from the nose and mouth, and dried on the skin. The 
cheeks were slightly swollen. The eyes were not suft'used with 
blood. 

Anne Couch, Mr. H. Rowe's servant, said the deceased ap- 



310 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

peared pale and poorly, and wished, on that morning, to go 
Miming' (i. e., to fetch lime) from the kiln. 

W. Good said that on Friday week, whilst in a field half a 
mile from the orchard, he heard a loud ' screech' from the wood 
adjoining the orchard. It was as if a man were strangling a 
youngster with his hands. This was shortly after nine o'clock. 

Richard Scoble, when in the field on Friday week, heard a 
cry in the direction of the wood. His brother was on horse- 
back, and they proceeded towards the wood, but saw nothing. 

James Ellis spoke to deceased respecting the other horrible 
crime charged against the prisoner, and deceased said that the 
charge was true, and that the prisoner had offered him money, 
not to say what he knew concerning it. 

After the examination of some other witnesses, the jury con- 
sulted for two hours, and returned a verdict that ' Deceased 
died of strangulation, and that he was wilfully murdered by 
some person or persons unknown.' 

The prisoner, who remains in custody, was to be examined 
by the magistrates." — Observer, March l^th, 1851. 

A month or so after my arrival in London, my servant 
obtained permission one day to .go out and see the " curos- 
ities/' as he expressed it. Guided by a lad who ran on 
errands for the house where we were staying, he wan- 
dered in the direction of St. Paul's, and into the heart of 
the city. During their stroll they met with an adventure, 
which you must have as Buck gave it to me. 

''We was gwine 'long, Marster," said he, ''lookin at 
the curus sights, an the things in the shops, an the boy 
he said, says he, ' Thar's the Post Hoffice, Mr. Buck,' says 
he, ' whar people gits letters from,' says he. Why, Mars- 
ter, that Post Office in Augusty can't hold a candle to 
them bildins, sir. You can almost put hit into one o' 
them big rooms. 

'Well,' says I, ^Tom,' says I, 'to my notion, hit must 
cost a power o' money,' says I, 'to carry the mail from 
one part o' that big house to 'nuther. I spose they must 
keep a railroad in thar to do it with,' says 1. 

The boy laffed at me, sir, he did, becase he thought I 
didn't know no better — all time I was divartin myself 
with him^ sir. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 311 

' Come 'long, now, Mr. Buck/ says he,' ' an I'll show • 
you the Chartrus,' says he. 

So, arter we had seen the Chartrus " 

'' The Charter-house, I suppose you mean. Buck," 
said I. 

'' Well, I spose that was what the boy meaned, Mars- 
ter ; for you know he can't talk very plain, sir, no how. 
He perposed then, sir, that we should go to the — the — 
what-do-you-call-um ? — the big-gun ground, sir." 

" The Artillery Ground," said I. 

''Adzackly so, Marster. 'An to Bunhill Fields,' says 
he, ' whar thar was a buryin-ground,' says he, ' an hit 
wasn't far off,' says he. 

I thought it mighty curus, Marster, how thar should 
be any fields right thar in London, an a buryin-ground, 
too ; for you know, sir, that in Ceorgy we allers has 'um 
on the outskearts of the town. Howbeever, thinks I, I'll 
go an see them fields, an maybe 'mong them all I'll find a 
patch of new ground, an we'll git a showin for Marster's 
plough yit, 'fore the Great Exerbishun's over." [Here the 
rogue turned his head away, but I plainly saw that he 
was grinning.] ''Well, Marster, as we was passin along, 
an takin a nigh cut as the boy said, to them fields, sir, 
we heerd a scream from the up-stars winders of a house, 
but we couldn't see whar it was, adzackly, sir. Presently 
we seed people runnin to the place, an we follered, an 
then we seed a poor little boy lyin on the ground bleedin. 
There was a mighty jabberin an gwine on over him, an I 
couldn't 'zackly larn how hit was ; but, as well as I could 
tell, he was flung out of a winder, an by his own mother, 
too, everybody said, sir. Arter a while, I sees a woman 
'mong the crowd that they said was his mother, an done 
it. She was sorter drunk, an cavorted round mightily, 
tell a pleeceman come an tuk her off to jail, an had the 
child tuk awav to a doctor. 

' Marster,' says I, to a genTman that was tellin the 
crowd about it, ' hit aint true, now, that the child's mo- 
ther flung him out the winder, sir. Hit must a been 
somebody else, musn't it, sir ?' says I. 

'No, blackamoor,' says he, 'hit mustn't. Hit was her, 
an nobody else,' says he. 



o 



12 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 



' What coul#liaYe made her e-one an done it ?' savs I. 

* Grin/ says he; ' gin an the deviL' ■ 

'Well raaly!' says I, ' I think the devil must a had 
somethin to do with it ; for all the gin in the world, and 
knock-kneed whiskey to boot/ says I, jest so, 'couldn't 
make a mother kill her own child, 'thout the help o' the 
devil — leastwise, that's the way with the mothers whar I 
comes from, Marster,' says I. 

' Whar do you come from ?' says he. 

' Georgy/ says I. 

' What sort o' Georgy ?' says he ; ' not whar they 
breeds gals for Turkey ?' says he. 

' Come, Marster/ says I, ' for I wasn't in a humor for 
funnin with the gen'l'man, ' come, Marster, you're arter 
pokin fun at this nigger. They don't breed no gals in my 
country for turkeys, you knoAV very well,' says I; 'but I 
must say, Marster/ says I, ' ef they did, an cooked one 
on 'um every day for dinner,' says I, jest so, ' thar would 
► be more sense in hit than the way the people has here, 
of killin thar children for nuthin, an puttin 'um to no 
use at all,' says I. 

The gen'l'man seemed to think what I said was power- 
ful funny, Marster, for he lalfed mightily. 

' You goose,' says he, Svho talked about turkeys? I 
asked you ef you was from Georgy in Asia,' says he, 
Svhar gals are bred and trained as wives for the Turks,' 
says he. 

' No sir-ree !' says I. ' Ef thar's any sich Georgy as 
that, Marster, I'm not from thar. I'm from Georgy in 
Ameriky, sir,' says I, 'whar we has as pretty gals, too,' 
says I, ' as any in the world, sir,' says I. ' But Ave takes 
mighty good care, Marster, that they corniffles in the 
breasts of our own men the dexterity of their charms,' 
says I, jest so. 

You see, Marster, I sorter talked what you call hyfer- 
lutin at the genTman, becase I wanted him to see that 
this nio'o-er knowed a thins; or two hisself when he thunk 
about it, and becase I was determed to stand up for my 
country when it was insaulted. 

'' Oh, that's hit, is it?' says the gen'l'man. 'An so you 
are from Georgy in Ameriky,' says he, ' whar they have 
slaves, don't thev?' 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 313 

^ Yes, Marster/ says I. 

' Wliy, ef we bleeve half what we heer/ says he, ' ef 
the slaveholders thar don't fling thar children out o' win- 
ders, they makes nothin o' whippin thar slaves to deth, 
any time. How 'bout that ?' says he. 'Aint that so ?' 

' Nairy time,' Marster,' says I. ' Leastwise I hardly 
ever heerd o' sich a thing,' says I. 'An hit don't stand to 
reason, Marster,' says I. ' People ginerly don't part 
with thar money so easy,' says I. ' Niggers is mighty 
high,' says I ; ' an ef a man kills his nigger, he flings 
his money away. Your people,' says I, ' can 'ford to fling 
thar children out o' winder,' says I, ' becase they aint worth 
much, ef anything ; but they's mighty clar of doin thar 
money so,' says I, jest so. ' Fact is, Marster, to my no- 
tion, we aint so QervigToiis, no how, no way you can fix 
it,' says I, jest so, 'as you are in this country.' 

' Were you a slave, old boy, whar you come from ?' says 
he. 

' Yes, Marster,' says I. • 

'An yit you call it your country, as ef you was free/ 
says he. ' How come it any country of yourn,' says he, 
' ef you was a slave ?' 

' Marster,' says I, ' that's whar I was born an raised, 
that's whar my wife an chil'n is,' says I ; ' an we's all 
mighty happy thar, an I think I has a right to call it my 
country,' says I. 'Besides that,' says I, 'my grandaddy 
he fout for the country in the Indei^endence War; an, 
for the matter o' that, I sorter done somethin o' that kind 
myself — leastwise, my Marster he went out agin the Semi- 
noles, an fit through the Fluridas, an I went 'long with 
him as his sarvant. It's true, we didn't git much chance 
to extinguish ourselves, an killed more alligators than In- 
juns; but we done the best we could, an you know, 
Marster, nobody could do no more,' says I, jest so. 
' How did you git here ?' says he. 

'I come with my Marster, sir; w^ho I left this morn in 
at his lodgins in the Strand,' says I. 

'An you're gwine back to him ?' says he. 
'Sartain,' says I, ' ef I live.' 

' Yoic fool,' says he ; ' what ! go back to slavery ? You 
27 



314 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

shoiilclii't tliink of it. Come 'long with me, an I'll git you 

' What will you git me ?' says I. 

' Let me see — I will git you/ says he, ' I will git you 
ten pence a day/ says he ; ' an that's big wages for a hod- 
man, for carryin brick/ says he; 'but bein you're a 
slave/ says he, 'an wish to git away from your Marster, 
I'll do that for you,' says he. 

' Marster,' says I, ' ef hit was ten shillins, hit wouldn't 
begin to pay. I should be givin up a sartainty for a on- 
sartainty,' says I, jest so. 'Why, hit's as much as the 
workm people kin do here, Marster, to keep soul an body 
together — an a great many on 'um don't do it ; for I meets 
'um every whar 'bout, suiferin for somethin to eat,' says I. 
' Us slaves in Georgy, Marster, has got a plenty, an to 
spar. An then our marsters has to tote all our cares an 
troubles, an the troubles o' our families,' says I; 'they 
aint on our backs. Our marsters is bound to do it ; an 
ef we git's sick, we's nursed, Marster, at our marster's 
expense. We's his money, an he wants to turn us over 
soon as possible,' says I, jest so. 'For same reason, sir, 
our marsters couldn't 'ford to let thar sarvants drown 
thar cares, ef they ever has any, — which ef they has is 
onbeknowns to me, — in gin, or any sich pisin, as your 
poor people do. An so we is decent, an sober, an God- 
fearing people, Marster,' says I. ' When we gits old,' 
says I, 'an can't do anything for ourselves,' says I, 'he's 
obleeged to take care of an support us ; an he'll love to 
do it, becase marsters ginerly, in my country, gits to 
likin thar sarvants,' says I, jest so.* 'An that aint all, 

* See Appendix, D. 

Whilst tliese pages have been passing through the press, events have 
occurred at Harper's Ferry, which have afforded a strilcing illustration 
of much that has been said by Dr. Jones and his servant in these letters, 
as to the relations of master and slave in the Southern States. 

As has been remarked by Governor Wise, when speaking of this 
Harper's Ferry affaii% it seeras impossible for Northern men to understand 
tlie patriarchal character of the relation between master and slave in our 
country — that is to say, the nature of the strong family tie which, as a 
general rule, exists between them. It is to be hoped that this affair has 
by this time taught them something on this subject. That it has at least 
satisfied the viper of abolitionism, that in attempting to excite our con- 
tented and comfortable slaves into rebellion against their masters, it bites 
against a file. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 315 

Marster/ says I : Uo tell you the truth, ef I was sure of 
gittin plenty to eat here in this country, an bein tuk care 
of while I lived, an ef I didn't like my marster too well 
to desart him/ says I, ' I wouldn't live in a country whar 

The author of these letters passed through a portion of Virginia and 
Maryland, attended by a colored servant, about the time of the occurrence 
to which he has just referred, and had thus some opportunity of forming 
an opinion as to the amount of sympathy -with the movement on the part 
of slaves, and of the impression made upon them by it. He was thus 
enabled to ascertain (what is everywhere now well known) that even in 
the border States it met with no encouragement from slaves, and was, 
indeed, treated by them with contempt. This fact is so well understood 
at the South, and our people are so conscious that there is no materiel of 
disaifection among our slaves, out of w^hich insubordination or insurrection 
can arise, that, notwithstanding all the excitement which has been evented 
b}^ this affair, and the increased vigilance which has been exercised in 
looking after strange visitors among us, little or no change has been mfide 
in our police regulations with reference to our slaves, and the value of these 
slaves, as property, has been in no wise affected. There can be no better 
tests than these of security and confidence among our people, on this 
subject. 

When the circumstances to which I have referred first occurred, the 
people of the South were disposed to regard them as overt acts of the 
treason which fanatical Abolitionists of the North had been so long talk- 
ing and writing ; and we repeated to ourselves the trite, but classic senti- 
ment, that "Whom God wills to destroy, he first makes mad" — almost 
rejoicing in the confident expectation, that this outrage, which was but 
the practical working out of Abolition doctrines, was so dangerously and 
shockingly evil, that the friends of our Constitution and of the Union in 
the Northern States would now be enabled so to speak and act, as effec- 
tually to overwhelm all who were concerned in, or responsible for the 
treason, Avith infamy and disgrace. In this, great and general disappoint- 
ment has been experienced and expressed. And now, in the opinion of 
moderate and reflecting men of all parties in the South, of men who are 
by no means mixed up with the manoeuvres of politicians, there has been 
so much of sympathy with the perpetrators of this mad treason mani- 
fested at the North, without effective rebuke or denunciation from those 
whom we have been accustomed to regard as the conservative members 
of society there, as greatly to lessen our confidence in these persons, and 
very much to loosen the hold of our affections upon the Union of these 
States. I see very plainly what the result will be unless the remedy be 
applied without delay. That remedy must be taken in hand by the people 
(not the poltticia7)s) of the Northern States. If these people desire a con- 
tinuance of the Union with us, they must bring to bear upon the crisis a 
power before which politicians bow down and grovel, and fanatics stand 
stricken with awe — the power of well-defined public opinion. Unless that 
opinion be speedily manifested in some energetic and decisive form, (and 
I know of none so effectual as the ballot,) another republic, in a few 
years, will be added to the roll of nations upon the North American con- 
tinent. I shrink from the contemplation of its baptism. 



316 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OR, 

tlie women flings thar children out o' the winders,' says 
I, jest so. I think, 'bout this time, the gen'l'man didn't 
like the way the sugument was a gwine, Marster, an so 
drapped it, and put out." 

On the next day, I attended the police court at the 
Guildhall, where I was informed that the woman who had 
maltreated her child in the manner stated by Buck would 
be examined. Below you have an account of that exami- 
nation : 



" POLICE INTELLIGENCE. — Saturday, August 23. 

Guildhall. — Margaret Raymond, aged thirty, was charged 
before Alderman Wilson, with throwing her son, aged six, from 
the third-floor window of a house in Sun court, Golden lane. 
Policeman, 140 D, said he received information on the previous 
evening that a child had been thrown out of a window, and 
proceeded to No, 9, Golden lane. The prisoner was coming 
out, and she exclaimed, 'I have done it now !' The child was 
sent to the hospital, and the prisoner taken into custody. The 
child afterwards said that his mother had thrown him out of 
the window because he would not let her take oif his boots. 
The prisoner : ' I was very drunk, your worship. ' Alderman 
Wilson : ' Do you think that to be a justification of your con- 
duct V The police officer : ' She knew very well what she was 
doing. The child fell on his head on the shed below the 
window, and rolled thence to the ground.' The surgeon's cer- 
tificate was produced. It stated that the child's head was 
much injured, but the skull was not fractured. Mary Ann 
Kegan, an intelligent girl, aged eleven, who said she never 
read the Bible, but always told the truth, deposed that she 
lived in the house (No. 9), and was looking through the second- 
floor window. She saw the prisoner holding the child out of 
the upper window ; he exclaimed, ' Oh, mother, don't chuck 
me out !' The mother then took him by the heels and dropped 
him out of the window. At the same time a little girl in the 
mother's room exclaimed, ' Oh, mother, don't throw him out !' 
The prisoner was committed for trial. She subsequently ad- 
mitted that she had wanted the boy's boots in order to sell 
them for gin." — Observer, August 25th, 1851. 

The scene described in this report has reminded me 
somewhat of one of Hogarth's famous pictures, known as 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 317 

'^ Gin Lane/' and suggestive of manners and morals in 
this metropolis more than a century ago. The principal 
figure in that horrible picture is a loathsome woman, so 
drunk that she lets her child fall from her arms into a 
cellar, situated in the area, above which she is seated. 
She is surpassed by her modern successor in the gin lanes, 
however ; for the latter does not wait until her child falls 
by accident from her arms, but throws it from the win- 
dow, that she may exchange its boots for gin. A catas- 
trophe so shocking was not imagined by Hogarth. I sup- 
pose he would have rejected it, as too unnatural for 
probability — another illustration of the hackneyed phrase 
that ^Hruthis strange — stranger than fiction." 

I bring this letter to a close b}^ assuring you that I 
remain, dear Major, 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Maj. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTER XXXIII. 

TWO CHILDREN MURDERED BY THEIR FATHER AT CAMBER- 
WELL MURDER OF A CHILD BY ITS MOTHER, AND DEATH 

OF THE LATTER — HORRIBLE MURDER OF TWO CHILDREN BY 

THEIR MOTHER AT LOUGHREA MURDER OF ATSf INFANT 

BY ITS STEP-FATHER — ILL-TREATMENT OF A CHILD BY ITS 
FATHER (a clergyman) AND HIS SISTER, RESULTING IN ITS 
DEATH — MURDER OF AN INFANT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 
OF THE BAGNIGGE-WELLSROAD — BUCK DISCOURSES ON THAT 
TEXT. 

London, April 4th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — I hasten to furnish you with other 
matter which I have in hand relating to the subject which 
I was considering when I last wrote to you. 

I send you, first, the account of the murder of two 
children, and the injury of another, by a father, perpe- 
27* 



318 . THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

trated in this city during tlie fall of 1851. It presents a 
curious chapter in the bloodthirsty history of cruelty to 
children on the part of Enghshmen. 

" TWO CHILDREN MURDERED BY THEIR FATHER AT CAMBER- 
WELL. — SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. 

The Discovery. — On Tuesday morning, about eight o'clock, 
one of the most horrible murders that has been committed for 
some years was discovered in the Wyndham road, Camberwell, 
which threw the whole of the neighborhood into a fearful state 
of excitement, when it became known that a respectable trades- 
man in that vicinity had cut the throats of his three young 
children, and destroyed himself The name of the father is 
Anthony Fawcett, aged forty-three, and on Monday he took 
possession of a grocer's shop at the corner of Queen's place, 
Wyndham road, lately occupied by Mr. Stockham. He brought 
with him his wife and three children — Emily Fawcett, six years 
and a half old, deceased ; Frederick, one year and seven months, 
deceased ; and Mary Ann, who is badly wounded. He seemed 
to have been greatly disappointed with his purchase, and 
grumbled very much to his wife respecting it ; but nothing in 
his appearance indicated any symptoms of insanity. A little 
after seven o'clock the family got up, and his wife dressed the 
two elder children and took them down stairs to breakfast, 
leaving the baby in bed up stairs. While the children and 
father were partaking of their morning meal in the back par- 
lor at eight o'clock, the wife ran out to convey two letters to 
the Post Office, which is only two or three hundred yards dis- 
tant, and during her absence the man cut the throats of all his 
children. On her return she w^as horror-stricken at finding her 
two elder children with their throats cut ; and on proceeding 
further she perceived her husband cutting his own throat in the 
back kitchen. She immediately ran out and alarmed the neigh- 
bors, when police constable 115 P, Edward Sharvill, who was 
on duty near the spot, entered the house, and instantly pro- 
ceeded to the back kitchen, where he found the murderer lying 
under the sink, quite insensible, with blood gushing from his 
neck. He took him up, and found a large table knife in his 
grasp, which he had cut his throat with, and at the time he 
was not dead. A doctor was directly sent for, and Mr. King, 
surgeon, of Camberwell, attended, but Fawcett's death took 
place a few minutes after. He had cut his throat from ear to 
ear. On the constable entering the back parlor, he discovered 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 281 

he had not contributed a penny towards her support. She 
had worked for her own livmg;, and had paid the rent of the 
lodgings herself. On Christmas Eve she went to bed shortly 
after twelve, and about two hours afterwards was aroused from 
her sleep by her husband, who came into the room without a 
light, and got into her ])ed. He said, ' Poll, I am come to you, 
for I am so cold.' She replied merely, 'Then, why come to 
me if you are cold ?' In the next moment she received a vio- 
lent stab from a sharp-pointed knife, which severed her ear 
and entered her throat ; and, in raising her hand to resist him, 
she received a severe cut upon her fingers. She then called, 
as loudly as she was able, to a Mr. Hyatt, who lived at the 
bottom of the house, exclaiming, 'My husband has stabbed 
me.' Hyatt and his son came to her assistance, the prisoner, 
in the meantime, having gone back to his own room. A sur- 
geon was sent for, and her wounds were dressed under his 
direction. The next morning her daughter found the carving- 
knife produced in her (witness') bed, stained with blood. 
Hyatt deposed that, on finding Mrs. Willis's bed linen satu- 
rated with blood, and a pool of blood on the floor, he sent for 
a surgeon, and then went to the room of the prisoner, whom 
he found wrapped up in some bed clothing, with several wounds 
in the throat. The prisoner said, ' If she is not dead, my hand 
must have been nervous.' They had lived in his house five 
years, and quarrelled on account of the man's drunken habits. 
He latterly spent all his money in drink. The wife was a well- 
conducted, hard-working woman, although occasionally indulg- 
ing in a glass. 

The prisoner : Have you never seen her lifted upstairs drunk 
by her own children ? 

Witness : Never ; but I have often seen you in that predi- 
cament. 

The prisoner here accused his wife of infidelity. His wife 
denied this, and Hyatt said her conduct had been most proper 
while lodging at his house. 

Mr. Jones, surgeon, deposed that the wound in complain- 
ant's throat was close to the artery, and if deeper, it would 
have been fatal. 

Mr. Taylor, surgeon of the King's College Hospital, said 
that the w^ounds in the prisoner's throat were skin wounds from 
a razor ; none of them dangerous. 

The prisoner reserved his defence, and asked to be allowed 
a glass of beer, as he had had nothing in the hospital for 
eleven days but rice-water. 
24* 



282 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

Mr, Henry said the medical men knew best what to give 
him, and their order must be attended to. He was committed 
for trial." — Observer, Jan. 16th, 1854. 

In the same paper from wiiicli the above is taken, I 
find the two cases following : 

"brutal treatment of women — REFUSAL OF A WIFE TO 

PROSECUTE. 

At Guildhall, on Monday, Adolphus Johnson was charged 
on remand with having assaulted his wife. The officer said 
the wife had been in the hospital, but was now able to attend 
if she chose. The defendant's master here stated that he had 
seen the wife, who had received a severe injury on the forehead, 
apparently inflicted by a poker. The wife told him that she 
was letting her husband in at one o'clock in the morning in a 
state of intoxication, when he assaulted her, as he had fre- 
quently done before. Witness therefore felt it his duty to state 
these facts, as the wife persisted in not attending. The defen- 
dant said that as his wife had forgiven him, he hoped the 
magistrate would forgive him also. 

Alderman Challis said that though the wife was satisfied, he 
was not. Such a case should not be dismissed merely because 
a wife wished to screen the man who ill-treated her, and in 
every such case he was determined to send the offender to 
prison for six months. He should, therefore, remand the case, 
and order the officer to summons the wife, and if she refused to 
attend, he would issue a warrant. 

Defendant : May I give bail in the interim ? 

Alderman Challis : Certainly not. You must go to prison. 

"WIFE BEATING — WIFE REFUSING TO PROSECUTE. 

At Worship street, on Monday, Michael Regan, bricklayer's 
laborer, was charged on remand with assaulting his wife, and 
thereby placing her life in danger. Mr. D'Eyncourt said that 
it was a most brutal outrage, but as it appeared perfectly mani- 
fest that the prisoner would altogether escape punishment, from 
the affectionate and forgiving feeling which was now displayed 
towards hira by his unfortunate wife, if he sent him before a 
jury, as he had originally intended, he should deal summarily 
wdth the case, and sentence him to six months' hard labor in 
the House of Correction." 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 283 



A paper of to-day furnishes the following reports : 

" ILL-TREATMENT OF WOMEN — THREATENING TO MURDER A 

WIFE. 

At Westminster, on Wednesday, Henry Hill, of 4t Vincent 
square, formerly clerk to Mr. Draper, solicitor, was charged 
with threatening to murder his wife, Mrs. Mary Hill, the wife, 
said that on Sunday morning, the defendant took up a knife, 
and said he would stab her if she interfered with him that day. 
She had not spoken to him before he used the threat. He had 
frequently threatened her before He had never struck her, 
but had repeatedly twisted her arms round in the sockets, so as 
to cause much pain. She is nine years married to him, and 
has four young children. He has no reason for such conduct 
to her. He never complains of her conduct. On Sunday 
morning he called her niece, and because she did not answer 
immediately, he said it was through her (witness') tuition. 
The other morning, at three o'clock, when witness was in bed, 
he threatened to murder her, because when he came up, after 
sitting two hours by himself in the kitchen, the candle was 
nearly out. 

In defence, the defendant expressed sorrow for his conduct, 
and said it was the effect of his having been drinking on the 
night before. 

The wife : He was certainly tipsy on the Saturday night ; 
but one day, when he was perfectly sober, he told me that 
sometimes at night he thought of getting up and cutting my 
throat. This so alarmed me, that I refused to sleep with him, 
and had my mother in the house, and he came to my bed-room 
and demanded admittance. I was so terrified that I called the 
police, but they would not interfere. 

31r. Arnold to defendant : If you use such threats, your wife 
must be protected. 

The defendant : There is no danger now, we are going to 
separate. 

Mr. Arnold to complainant : Is it so ? 

Complainant : I very much wish it. Besides his threats I 
have had for a year and a half to support myself and children 
by my own exertions. I was never brought up to anything 
of the sort. I had money w^hen I married, but he soon ran 
through it. I now support myself by dressmaking, through 
the assistance of some kind ladies. The defendant was bound 
over to keep the peace."' 



284. THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

''At Southwark, on Wednesday, John Finnigan, a respect- 
able looking: man, was charged with beating Ellen Finnigan, 
his wife. The wife, a middle-aged woman, whose face was 
di'eadfully lacerated and swollen, said she had been married to 
the prisoner about four years, and had had two children by 
him. They resided in Chapel-court, Southwark, and, until 
within the last twelve months, they had lived very comfortably 
together, but since then his habits had greatly changed, and 
he had often struck her, but she had hitherto refrained from 
making any complaint against him, in the hope that he would 
return to his former good conduct. On Tuesday he went, as 
usual, to his work, and between twelve and one o'clock in the 
morning he returned home in a state of intoxication, and im- 
mediately began to abuse her. She made no reply, but placed 
his supper before him, when he struck her a violent blow in 
the face, and, on her making an attempt to leave the room, he 
locked the door, and knocked her down, and, while she was 
lying on the floor, he kicked her repeatedly with great force, 
on the head and body, till she became insensible. Some per- 
sons who lodged in the house called a policeman, who came 
and rescued her from her husband's violence. — Defendant : I 
am willing to allow her a separate maintenance, if the charge 
be withdrawn. — Mr. Combe : What, after you have nearly 
murdered her ? You must first suffer six months' hard labor 
in the House of Correction, before you can be allowed to talk 
of such an arrangement. — The defendant : I hope you will 
not send me there. What will become of my children ? — Mr. 
Combe : You are a cowardly fellow. Your wife and children 
shall be taken care of. — He was removed." 

You will observe that these cases are placed under a 
general heading, entitled ''Ill-teeatment of Women." 
This is precisely as it stands in the paper from which 
they are taken, and it appears to have been adopted as a 
sort of standard or stationary title in that paper, under 
which all such reports are ranged. This fact sufhciently 
shows the frequency of this wife-butchering, woman-beat- 
ing system in England. It speaks volumes of itself. But 
the editor shall still further enlighten you on the subject 
in my next. 

Continue to believe me, 

Very respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

To Maj. J. Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 319 

Emily, aged six years and a half, lying dead, with her throat 
dreadfully cut, under the window, and Mary Ann, sitting nearly 
opposite, with hers also cut, but not effectually. Mr. King, as 
well as other surgeons, who had been called in, attended to the 
latter, and there is every likelihood that the poor little girl will 
recover. On going up stairs, the constable perceived the 
younger child with its head hanging out of bed, quite dead, 
with its throat cut, and the bed deluged with blood. There 
can be no doubt that the father committed the murders with 
three knives, as a large bacon knife, covered .with blood, was 
found in the bedroom, a table knife in the back parlor, and 
another in the man's hand. They all appeared to have been 
recently sharpened. Superintendent Lund, of the P division, 
was shortly after on the spot, when information was forwarded 
to the coroner of the horrible circumstance. The news soon 
spread and thousands of people assembled." — Observer, 
October Uh, 1851. 

Here follow two most unnatural and distressing cases : 



"MURDER OF A CHILD BY ITS MOTHER, AND DEATH OF THE 

LATTER. 

An inquest was held at Durham, on Friday last, on the 
bodies of Catherine Smith and her infant child. It appeared 
that the deceased woman had been married three weeks to a 
shipwright when she gave birth to a male child, which she 
destroyed by dashing its head against the wall, and then ex- 
pired for want of proper attendance after delivery. Her hus- 
band had accused her of being in the family-way, but she had 
denied the fact. He had given her some medicine when she 
complained of being ill, and had gone out to work. It was 
during his absence that she effected the above murder." — 
Observer, December Ibih, 1851. 

"HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AT LOUGHREA. 

This town has been thrown into great excitement in conse- 
quence of the murder of two children by their mother. The 
unfortunate perpetrator of this crime is a Mrs Colgrave, the 
wife of the head-constable of police here. On Thursday night 
week, her husband being absent, she sent her maid on a mes- 
sage from the police-barrack, in which she lived. Having 
secured the door, she proceeded to the bed where her children 



o_U THE SLAVEHOLDER ABHOAD ; OE, 

(two boys), aged respectively four years and a half and nine 
mouths, were sleeping, and murdered them by cutting their 
throats with a razor. The head of the elder child was nearly 
severed from the body, and the wound upon the neck of the 
other was such as must have produced immediate death. She 
tlien attempted to put an end to her own life by the same 
means, but did not succeed in doing so. Her husband has be- 
come insane since the fatal occurrence. She was of a morbid, 
melancholy temperament, but until this occurrence an aflec- 
tionate mother and wife." — Observer, January 2Qth, 1852. 

The next case to wbicli I call your attention is the 
murder of a poor little child by its step-father^ v/ho 
threw it into a well. The .annals of desperate wickedness 
seldom furnish a more revolting case. 

''MURDER OF AN INFANT IN SURREY. 

A most tragical event has just come to light. A man named 
Kcene, who was formerly for some time in the employment of 
the South-Eastern Railway Company, at Shalford station, as 
an engine cleaner, was married to a native of Albury, whose 
maiden name was Jane Broomer. While single, about May, 
1848, she was confined of an illegitimate child, the putative 
lather of which was stated by her to be a policeman. It was 
after this period she was married to Keene, and one day, when 
walking out together on the Downs, he took the child away 
from her and walked away with it, being absent from her about 
three quarters of an hour, when he returned, bringing the 
shawl the child was wrapped in, and giving it to his wife, 
stating that she would never again want it for the same pur- 
pose it had been used for. This happened about ten months 
ago. She made frequent inquiries of him what he had done 
with the child ? which she at last elicited from him ; for about 
a week since she disclosed to her mother the sad secret that 
her husband had thrown the child down a well, situate in the 
Warren, in the parish of Guildford. The poor old woman, in 
the anguish of her mind, communicated the facts to one of her 
sons, who soon made it known to the proper pohce authorities 
at Guilford, who took Keene and his wife into custody. 
Superintendent Eadley and one of his men went to Shere, on 
Tuesday afternoon week, and proeurhig some well tackle, pro- 
ceeded with proper assistance to the weU pointed out by the 
woman Keene. A man of the name of William Edser, who 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 321 

was accidentally passing at the time, and who had formerly 
assisted in digging this well, undertook to go down. The 
depth is about 187 feet ; when he reached the bottom he was 
horror-struck at seeing the skeleton of a child lying on its 
back — one foot across a small beam. On trying to lift it, it 
fell to pieces. He gathered up the bones, put them into a 
basket, and brought them to the top with him. An inquest 
was held on the body, but adjourned. On Tuesday Keene and 
his wife were examined at Guildford before the magistrates, 
when evidence was given proving that the female prisoner had 
confessed the crime of which her husband had been guilty. 
She said that she would have made the confession before, but 
her husband had threatened to murder her if she said anything 
about it. In order to give the police the fullest opportunity 
of collecting all the facts relating to the horrible afiair, as also 
to learn the result of the coroner's investigation, the bench 
remanded the prisoners, and they were despatched to Horse- 
monger lane jail." — Observer, February dth, 1852. 

The last case is bad enough, truly, but worse are to fol- 
low. Take, for example, the following, which is the de- 
struction of a child from continued ill-treatment and 
starvation, by its aunt, who was aided and abetted by its 
own father. I grieve to say, too, that that father was a 
clergyman, and that the insensate brutality which seems 
to characterize this British people extends even to 
those whose mission it is to preach ''peace on earth, 
good-will to men." It is true that the perpetrators of 
this crime resided at the time in India ; but they were 
from this country, as you will perceive, and the case only 
proves that " coelum non aniraum mutant, qui trans- 
TYiare curruntJ' 



"THE CHARGE AGAINST A CLERGYMAN AND HIS SISTER IN 

INDIA. 

A previous mail stated that the Rev. J. M'Kay and his 
sister were charged with inflicting such an amount of ill-treat- 
ment on the child of the male prisoner as to cause its death. 
The following is the indictment. The first count charged Miss 
M'Kay, with having, on the 4th of October last, and five fol- 
lowing days, in Beleepoorah, at Benares, on one Helen M'Kay, 
the child of the prisoner, John M'Kay, maliciously and felo- 

V 



322 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

iiiously made divers assaults with a whip and hempen cords, 
giving her mortal wounds and bruises in different parts of her 
body, of which she languished from the 4th to the 9th of Octo- 
ber, and then died. And it further charged the male prisoner 
with having been present at the commission of this felony and 
murder, aiding and abetting the female in it ; and alleged that 
both did thus kill and murder the child. The second count 
alleged that both the prisoners, contriving and intending to 
starve and murder the child, made several assaults upon her 
from the 4th to the 9th of October, and confined her in a room, 
and neglected, omitted, or refused to give or suffer to be given 
sufficient meat and drink for her sustenance, in consequence of 
which she died, and the prisoners did thus feloniously murder 
her. They were found guilty of aggravated manslaughter, 
and sentenced to be transported for life to Yan Diemen's Land." 
Observer, February IQth, 1852. 

Early in the year 1852, we had anotlier specimen of 
what civilization was doing for the metropolis in the 
neighborhood of the Bagnigge- Wells Eoad. A mother 
and wife in that neighborhood murdered lier infant, and 
endeavored to hang herself, as you will see by the follow- 
ing account : 



''MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. 

On Monday morning last, considerable excitement was 
created throughout the neighborhood of Bagnigge Wells-road, 
by the discovery that on the previous day a young woman 
named Barbara Goodwin, aged 26 years, the wife of a car- 
penter in the employ of Mr. Greenend, builder, in the Caledo- 
nian road, living at the house of her parents with her husband, 
No 18 George street, in that locality, had murdered her infant 
child, Thomas Goodwin, aged seventeen months, and also made 
a most desperate attempt on her own life by cutting her throat 
with a razor. From inquiries made on the spot, it appears 
that for some time past she had been observed to be very low- 
spirited, and to express a wish that she was in the grave. Her 
friends frequently urged her to cheer up, and not give way to 
such dulness, but without avail. She was dotingly fond of 
her child, 16 months old, and was constantly caressing it. On 
Saturday night last, about half past six o'clock, she sent for a 
female relation, who came to her house, on which she found 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 323 

her in a very depressed state of mind, when she repeated her 
wish to be in the grave. At about ten o'clock on Saturday- 
night, she retired to rest with her husband and child. At an 
early hour on Sunday morning, a young woman, residing in 
the same house, had her attention attracted by a gurgling 
noise, and shortly after, Mr. Goodwin, the husband, was awoke 
out of his sleep by the same noise, when he found his child in 
the struggles of death ; his wife having administered to it a 
quantity of deadly poison, and the mother was lying on the 
bed bleeding profusely from a wound in her throat, which she 
had inflicted with her husband's razor. He instantly made an 
alarm, and Dr. Wicker, a neighboring surgeon, was sent for, 
and he promptly attended and rendered every assistance. He 
administered antidotes to the child, and sewed up the wound 
on the throat of the unhappy mother, who now lies at her resi- 
dence in a dangerous condition. The poor child, which was a 
handsome little creature, died shortly after the poison had been 
aduunistered to it. No reason is at present assigned for the 
rash acts. She is kept very quiet, and all that she has been 
heard to say, with reference to the deceased child is, that '' the 
dear child is in heaven, where she hopes soon to be with it." 

On Wednesday, Mr. Wakley, M.P., opened an inquiry into 
the circumstances at the sign of the Britannia, Britannia street, 
Gray's Inn road, when it appeared that Mrs. Goodwin had 
always discharged her domestic duties with every affection and 
pro[)riety, never betraying the slightest aberration of intellect 
until the death of her father, to whom she was fondly attached, 
and who died eight months ago, since which period she had 
become melancholy. It also appeared that when Dr. Wicker 
had dressed the wound in her throat, and restored her to con- 
sciousness, in answer to questions put to her, she said that 
when she brought the child into the room adjoining the bed- 
room on the Sunday morning, she gave it a teaspoonful and a 
half of laudanum, and drank herself the remaining contents of 
two phials, which she bought at different shops in pennyworths. 
After taking the laudanum she brought the child again to bed, 
when she vomited up the poison, and fearing that the child 
would die, and she would live, she cut her own throat with a 
razor, which she then wrapped in her pocket-handkerchief and 
placed under her pillow. The coroner having been informed 
that the mother w^as in a hopeless state, ordered her immediate 
removal to the hospital, and adjourned the inquiry until it was 
ascertained whether the mother survived or not. The unfor- 
tunate creature is under the surveillance of the police." — 
Observer, Feb. Qth, 1852. 



324 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

When I liad read this report, I called Buck's attention 
to it, and remarked that it afforded further evidence of 
that need of the missionary in the Bagnigge-Wells Eoad 
which he had suggested. 

'' May depend upon it, Marster," said he, "the devil has 
got persession o' them people. But fact is, I begin to find 
so many other places here, 'bout as bad, that I'm sort o' 
jubous ef it's worth while to send a mishunnary to them 
people while so many in other places in this country is 
starvin for the bread o' life. We can't 'ford to send 
preachers an Bibles to all on um, sir, you know. Hit's a 
thousand pities, too ! But, Marster, I'm beginnin to larn 
that heap o' the bad doins here is owin to gin. The devil 
is behind the gin-barrel, I do suppose ; but gin is at the 
bottom of so much villany here, that I think some o' them 
'postles o' temperance is needed 'bout as bad as the pair- 
son. I do bleeve, Marster, ef we could git Mars. George 
Pearce to come over here, he would knock the hind sights 
off o' some o' old Satan's big guns ; but hit 'U take Uncle 
J)abney, or some o' them temperence fellers, sir, to spike 
um. 

I will recur to the subject of this letter in my next; 
and now beg leave to add only that I am, sir, 

EespectfuUy, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Majoe J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 325 



LETTER XXXIV. 

CHARGE AGAINST A FARMER, OF MURDER, BY THROWING A 
CHILD TO BE DEVOURED BY A SOW — CRUELTY TO A CHILD 

THREE YEARS OLD MURDER OF A CHILD — FATAL CRUELTY 

TO A CHILD BY BURNING IT IN THE HAND WITH A LIVE 

COAL MURDER OF CHILDREN FOR BURIAL-FEES MURDER 

OF A CHILD BY STARVATION, AND ILL-TREATMENT BY 
FATHER AND STEP-MOTHER — CRUEL TREATMENT OF A CHILD 

BY ITS MOTHER CHILD-TORTURE, BY WAY OF CHRISTMAS 

SPORTS. 

London, April 6th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — Continuing the subject which. I was 
treating when I last wrote to you, I send you other in- 
stances of brutal cruelty to children on the part of 
this British people. And the next to which I call your 
attention is so shocking, and disgusting in its details, as 
almost to deter me from dwelling on it long enough to 
enclose it to you. Read it, if you can, and agree with 
me, that never, even when struggling with the heaviest 
nightmare, did it enter into the brain of an American to 
dream of anything half so horrible. 

"CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST A FARMER BY THROWING AN 
INFANT TO BE DEVOURED BY A SOW. 

The Brecon county magistrates were engaged for several 
hours on the 28th ult., in investigating a charge preferred 
against Mr. Thomas Phillips, of Pentrenaboth, in the hamlet 
of Senny, Brecknockshire, by a discharged servant of his, 
named Hugh Williams. It appeared that upon Williams de- 
manding an arrear of wages due to him about three weeks 
back, a quarrel ensued, when Williams accused his master of 
having murdered his illegitimate child by throwing it alive to 
a sow, who devoured the infant. This report having obtained 
28 



326 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

circulation, Pliillips felt anxious to retrieve his character, and 
caused an attorney at Brecon to demand a retraction of the 
charge. Instead, however, of doing so, Williams at once de- 
nounced his master before the magistrate as a murderer, and 
brought a lad, who with himself was in Phillips's employ, 
to prove the fact. Mr. Phillips voluntarily appeared before 
the magistrates, and declared his wish to meet the charge at 
once. Hugh Williams was then sworn, and deposed that iu 
the month of March, 1850, he was in the employ of Phillips. 
One day as he was coming up towards the fold, he saw Phil- 
lips. Au infiint lay on the ground before him, being devoured 
by a sow^ He saw the child in the sow's mouth, and heard it 
cry. The sgn*-- was eating the Ijwer portion of the body. Had 
never seen the child at Phillips's before. There was a female 
servant in the house. Had heard people say there was some- 
thing the matter with her. The previous night she was faint- 
ing. There w^as a boy in the service then, named Thomas 
Williams. The girl's name was 3]argaret Morgan. Wheu 
the sow was eating the child, witness attempted to stop her. 
She ran o&', and had devoured it all before he got up to the 
sow. Witness told Phillips of it then, and he said if he dared 
to say anything about it he would kill him directly. 

Cross-examined by Mr. S. B. Evans : Mentioned it to 
' Peggy of the Yelin' (of the mill) directly afterwards. Thos. 
Phillips turned the sow into the pigsty immediately. Marga- 
ret Morgan stood at the door looking at the sow eating the 
child. She did not work for two or three days about that time. 
She is now^ at Dowlais. (Here some person stated that Mar- 
garet Morgan was in court, she having, it appeared, been 
fetched as a witness on behalf of Phillips. She w^as, however, 
brought forward and placed in the dock as a prisoner.) She 
complained of being unwell. She said, after witness went to 
her, ' Oh !' and clasped her hands together. Witness first ran 
after the sow, and then returned and asked Phillips and the 
girl what they had been doing. Davis was in the fold then. 
He wanted to go home. He was afraid of the sow, which used 
to be very savage. The witness was then cross-examined at 
some length as to some delusion he had lately labored under 
of having been carried away by a ghost many miles across the 
country, whicli he gravely admitted to have been the fact, much 
to the surprise and astonishment of all present. 

Thomas Davis was then called. He stated that he was 14 
years of age. Last 31 arch twelvemonth he was in the service 
of Phillips. One day, about dinner-time, he saw Phillips bring 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 327- 

a little child out of the house on a tilestone, and throw it 
down before the sow. Phillips fetched the sow from the cot. 
Heard the childcry. Hugh Williams came up when the child 
was half devoured. Margaret Morgan came to the door. 
Witness was afraid of the sow, and ran away. Told his mother 
and 'Peggy of the Post' of it immediately he reached home. 
His mother's name was Ann Davis. The prisoner Margaret 
Morgan was the girl who was looking at the sow eating tl>c 
child. The witness, who appeared to be an intelligent lad, 
gave his evidence in a straightforward manner. After hearing 
the evidence, the magistrates stated their intention of remand- 
ing the prisoner for further examination to Saturday next, 
when the mother of the boy and other witnesses will be sum- 
moned to attend. Heavy bail was tendered for the appearance 
of Phillips, but refused." — Observer, March Sth, 1852. 

Another case of parental cruelty occurred about the 
same time in Birmingham, and is reported in the " Ob- 
server " of March loth, 1852 ; being copied from a Birm- 
ingham paper, as follows : 

"CRUELTY TO A CHILD. 

The facts of a very melancholy case of parental cruelty 
transpired at an inquest held on the body of the sufferer, a little 
boy named John Le Tort, about three years old, at the 
Thatched House Tavern, Duddiston row, on Wednesday last. 
Deceased was the son of William Le Tort, a travelling eques- 
trian, who with his wife, deceased, and another child, two years 
older, had lived in apartments for about a week previously at 
a beer-shop, called the Great Gun, and his father had been 
training him to perform gymnastic and other feats peculiar to 
the profession to which he belonged. Le Tort was seen endea- 
voring to make the deceased stand head downwards upon his 
hands, and each time the poor little fellow failed in doing so, 
which he did from weakness, his father caught hold of him and 
shook him severely, and then dashed him apparently with great 
force to the ground. The poor boy was afterwards found 
extended upon the ground, in a dying state, and he expired a 
f(nv moments before the arrival of Mr. Simons, surgeon. Le 
Tort, when spoken to on the subject, seemed much shocked, 
and said that he was turning the deceased a somersault, and 
instead of alighting on his feet, 9,s he should have done, he fell 
upon his head, and that caused his death. This was the whole 



328 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

of the positive evidence bearing on the case that could be ob- 
tained, and the inquiry at this stage was adjourned until the 
following day, in order that Mr. Simons might make a post 
mortem examination. On the resumption of the inquiry, Mr. 
Simons stated that the child had died from effusion on the 
brain, caused by some extrinsic force or resistance, and he was 
of opinion that a child of deceased's age, having such bruises 
on his body as he had found, was not in a proper condition to 
perform vigorous gymnastic exercises with safety to his life. 
The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Le Tort, 
whose real name turns out to be Fitzmartin, ind he was com- 
mitted to take his trial at the ensuing assizes." — Birmingham 
Journal. 

In what country, but such, an one as abounded in cruel 
and bloodthirsty ruffians, could be found even a man of 
weak intellect, who would maltreat and murder a poor 
little child, as you will find, from the following extract, 
was done about the same time in Berkshire ? 



"MURDER NEAR MAIDENHEAD. 

A laboring man, named John Cannon, residing at Boyne 
Hill, has, for the last two years, taken as a lodger a relative 
of his wife, named Isaac Lee, who has always shown indica- 
tions of weak intellect. On Tuesday morning week, having 
been left in the house with a little girl about four years of age, 
a granddaughter of John Cannon's, he cruelly murdered the 
poor child, it is supposed by knocking its head against the 
floor, and afterwards kicking it about the room. Lee was 
taken before the magistrates on Friday week, and committed 
to take his trial at the next assizes for the county of Berks for 
murder." — Observer, March 2Qth, 1852. 

I now approach a case so fiendish, that, even after the 
preparation of experience through which you have been 
passing, you can scarcely believe it possible. It was the 
burning of a poor little orphan child, in the workhouse at 
Greenwich, by its nurse, who placed a burning coal of fire 
in its hand, and held down the fingers until the coal grew 
black. During the terrible torture, the woman boxed and 
beat the poor little sufi'erer, so as to prevent it from cry- 
ing out in its agony, although, according to the testimony 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 329 

of the physician, it was so burnt as eventually to cause 
tlie thumb and fingers to double into the hand. And all 
this was done for no offence, and upon slight provocation. 

This woman was prosecuted for the assault, and con- 
victed; and the monster was sentenced by the judge to 
fourteen days imprisonment only. 

The child soon afterwards died ; its death was attri- 
buted to this cause, and an inquest was held upon the 
body, which herewith I send you : 



FATAL CRUELTY AT GREENWICH UNION. 

The late atrocious case of burning at the Greenwich Union 
house, which has excited much attention throughout the coun- 
try, is at an end. After a lingering illness, consequent on the 
injuries received, the child Gaywood is no more, death having 
put an end to its sufferings on Sunday last. The public will 
very naturally ask, is the farcical sentence of fourteen days' 
Imprisonment, passed by the Common Sergeant, at the late 
session of the Central Criminal Court, to atone for the de- 
priving of this child of life ? If so, then, indeed, are the poor 
left in our unions without protection ; for there can be little 
doubt but that the injuries inflicted have been the cause of its 
death. From the time the discovery was made, till the day of 
its death, the child became exceedingly ill, and such was its 
state on Friday week, that Dr. Sturton called in the assistance 
of Mr. South, surgeon of Guy's Hospital, who, on seeing de- 
ceased, pronounced the case hopeless, and that there was no 
chance of its recovery. 

The nurse, Oldham, was liberated from Newgate on the 
fifteenth inst., and a very few hours afterwards made her ap- 
pearance at the Greenwich Union in a disgraceful state of in- 
toxication, and, claiming admission, said that a gentleman had 
given her a glass of wine, thus rendering her in the condition 
she was then in. At the meeting of the board on Thursday, 
she made her appearance before the guardians, ■ when they 
unanimously resolved to expel her from the house. The child 
was an orphan, its widowed mother having, at the recent visi- 
tation, been taken off with the cholera, and, previous to the 
injuries inflicted, was one of the healthiest and liveliest children 
in the house. The question now remains to be decided — 
Whether she can or cannot be again arraigned, seeing that 
death has since resulted from her conduct, and made to answer 
28* 



330 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, 

a charge, if not of wilful murder, at least of manslaughter? 
If she is altogether to escape, then, indeed, is the law of Eng- 
land an anomaly. 

Inquest on the body. — On Wednesday last an inquest was 
held in the Board room of the union workhouse, before Mr. 
C. arttar. Mr. B. Carter (chairman of the board) and Mr. 
John Wade (one of the guardians) were present ; and Mr. 
Saw, clerk to the board, watched the proceedings, which, from 
the numbers present, appeared to excite great interest. 

The coroner begged the jury to dismiss from their minds 
everything they had heard in reference to the case, and to at- 
tend to the evidence, in the first instance, of the medical men 
as to the cause of the death There was no ques- 
tion as to who had inflicted the injury, as that had been ad- 
mitted ; the only question was had the injury been the cause 
of, or had it hastened the death of the child ? 

Mr. Ellis, the master of the workhouse, identified the body 
of John Gaywood, aged six; he was an orphan, and had been 
in the workhouse three years. 

Mr. W. Sturton, medical officer of the union, deposed that 
deceased was first brought under his notice on Monday, the 
2Yth of December. Witness found him laboring under a burn 
of the right hand, which was not quite healed, and had a poul- 
tice on it ; at this time deceased appeared weak and a good 
deal out of spirits, and had lost his usual energy ; had known 
the deceased before, and he appeared a lively boy ; witness 
had him removed to the infirmary at once ; when removed, de- 
ceased did not appear ill, but a good deal distressed ; thinking 
he appeared very delicate, and required more support, witness 
ordered him a little porter ; a few days after the child went to 
the police court, and also to the Oid Bailey, on the 4th and 
5th of January ; there was no change in his health for four or 
five days after this, the wound was healed, but cicatrices left 
upon the fingers ; they were contracted, and would have been 
more so had the deceased lived. About the eighth or ninth 
deceased took to his bed, being affected with a slight diarrhoea ; 
upon which witness changed his diet, and instead of porter 
ordered him port wine, arrow root, anything else he might 
wish for being allowed him. Deceased continued to get worse 
till the 20th of January, being then seized with fits and con- 
vulsions His death was caused by watery effusion 

on the brain. He had written to Mr. South, after he had 
seen the deceased, to give his opinion for the information of 
the board of guardians. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 331 

In answer to questions from the coroner and jnrv, witness 
said he did not think the taking him to the Old Bailey did 
him any harm. He was assisted at the pod- mortem exami- 
nation by Dr. Bristow. They found nothing externally but 
an attenuated state of body ; there was serous effusion at the 
base of the brain, and the veins and capillary vessels were 
congested. He had made no examination of the veins leading 
from the hand to the arm-pit ; could not connect the injury on 
the hand with the disease of which the child died, but if the 
child was laboring under it at the time the injury was inflicted, 
it would accelerate it. Fright would produce the disease, and 
there was no doubt the child had suffered very much. 

John Syer Bristow, M. D., demonstrator of morbid anatomy 
at St. Thomas's, corroborated the statements of Mr. Sturton. 
He did not think the injury had caused the disease but thought 
it would accelerate it. If the child had lived, it never could 
have had any use of the hand. 

It may here be stated that Mr. Sturton did not see the child 
for three Aveeks after the injury had been inflicted. 

Elizabeth Ellis, inmate of the union, deposed that deceased 
was playing with the fireguard in the day room, when the 
nurse Oldham was poking the fire. A red hot cinder fell out 
of the fire, which Oldham picked up with a piece of rag and 
placed it in deceased's hand, squeezed it, and held it there 
from five to ten minutes [sensation]. Deceased did not cry 
whilst the cinder was in his hand, but did so when the nurse 
took it out, when she placed him on a form near the fireguard. 

By the Coroner : The cinder was of a red heat when placed 
in deceased's hand. The hand was pressed down on the cinder, 
which was about the size of a walnut, b^ Oldham, and when 
taken from the hand the cinder was black. 

Evidence continued : The nurse Oldham went up to the 
schoolmistress about a quarter of an hour after the injury was 
done, and told her of it. Deceased was rather tiresome, but 
never played with the fire. 

By a Juror : He was only playing with the fireguard — not 
with the fire. Witness said, ' Oh,' to which Oldham replied, 
' You may say P if you like.' When deceased began crying, 
Oldham boxed his ears to make him leave off. 

By Mr. Wade : Oldham held the deceased's fingers down 
with her hand. 

By the Coroner : When the coal was taken out of deceased's 
hand, it was quite black, and nothing was done to the hand 
that night. The hand appeared very red. 



332 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

Evidence resumed : A bread-and- water poultice was applied 
to it the next morninp^. When Oldham told the schoolmistress 
of it, she said, ' Oh, dear, I've done, a most cruel thing; I've 
burnt the cliild's hand.' The schoolmistress made answer, 
' Yes ; you ought not to have done that.' 

By Mr. Wade : Had seen the hand once before the doctor 
saw it, and it was very bad, and was discharging at the time. 
Did not think the matron knew anything about it. I he matron 
came into the school, about once in the three weeks it was bad, 
but she did not see it then ; neither did the guardians, nor Mr. 
Sturton. 

By a Juror : The matron does not often come into the 
school. The sub-matron (Miss Perry) came in about once a 
fortnight — sometimes once a month. The nurse and school- 
mistress look after the children. The nurse Oldham and my- 
self slept in the same room with deceased, but did not hear 
him cry during the night. Oldham told the deceased to put 
his hand under his pinafore. It was the duty of the governess 
to tell Mr. Ellis, the master, of the affair. 

Mary Ann Southward, the mistress of the infant school of 
the union, was next examined : She said she received informa- 
tion of the injuries from the nurse, Oldham, who said, ' I have 
done a very cruel act — I have put a cinder into the child's 
hand, but I did it to save its life, as he was playing with the 
fire.' Witness looked at the hand and found it red, but did 
nothing to it till the next morning. With regard to the state- 
ment of the witness Ellis, about the fire-guard, and who had 
said it was impossible for the child to get at the fire, she (wit- 
ness) would contradict such statement, as on one side of the 
guard there were six, and on the other four rods out, so that 
any child could get through to the fire. Witness did not think 
anything very serious had taken place, but thought that in a 
few days it would have got well. That was the reason she did 
not report it. 

By a Juror : It was her duty to have reported the case to 
the master, but did not think it was so serious as it had proved, 
or she should have done so. Saw the hand nearly every day, 
and considered it was getting better, when taken to the 
hospital. 

Another Juror : But there is very great blame attached to 
you for not reporting it. 

Witness admitted this, but stated that there was nothing 
done to conceal it from any one. She denied that the child 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 333 

had ever been taught to keep its hand under its pinafore to 
keep it out of sight, as she was aware of. 

Mr. Wade remarked that in going through the school, an- 
other girl had been found by the guardians with her hand held 
up, and the question was put to her as to what was the matter. 
In going through the infant school, however, nothing of the 
kind had been observed with the deceased. 

Mr. Sturton was recalled, and in answer to the coroner, 
stated that at the time the child was brought under his notice, 
the thumb and fingers were contracted, and deceased could not 
use them. 

A juror expressed surprise at the schoolmistress taking upon 
herself the management of the hand, whilst in such a state, 
which he considered was putting herself in opposition to the 
doctor of the house, upon which the schoolmistress retired. 



A meeting of the board of guardians was held the follow- 
ing day, Thursday, the twenty-seventh instant, at which Mr. 
Wade moved a resolution for the appointment of a paid nurse, 
with a salary of <£'12 per annum, instead of having the chil- 
dren looked after, or rather neglected by paupers, such as Old- 
ham, of whom the best character that could be given by the 
schoolmistress was, that she was not in general very unkind to 
the children, but that she w^as very passionate. It says much 
for the humanity of the guardians, that the motion fell to the 
ground for want of a seconder." — Observer, January 2>l6t, 
1853. 

The humane editor who published the above account, 
and whose voice, as you have seen, lias been several times 
raised to denounce the atrocious inhumanity of his coun- 
trymen and countrywomen, again cried out passionately 
against this frightful crime, as follows : 

" In the name of outraged justice, in the name of humanity 
trampled under foot, in the name finally of violated law, the 
official protectors of the public at large, the official guardians 
of the pauper — police, parish authorities, and law officers of 
the Crown — are hereby required to take up the case of tlie 
deceased orphan Gaywood, and, without delay, to bring the 
woman Oldham, accused by public opinion of his death, before 
tiie criminal bar of the country." — Observer, January 31s^, 
1853. 



Q 



34 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE; 



And yet^ Major, this people- — this very editor among 
them — are so terribly infatuated, in the face of such facts 
as appear in this report, as still to meddle with the sub- 
ject of slavery in our States, and foolishly to talk of its 
horrors. Its horrors, forsooth ! Why, what is there, 
even in the exaggerated pictures of Mrs. Stowe's book, 
like to this ? Can the editor find anything which will 
bear any sort of comparison with it, in the '' Key to 
Uncle Tom's Cabin?" I put it to you, Major, was ever 
anything half so awful heard of in our slave States, in 
the treatment of blacks or whites, children or adults ? 
And are you not sure, with an intensity of conviction, 
dear Major, that noY/here will such an instance of de- 
praved inhumanity as that just related, create a more un- 
utterable sense of horror, than among the inhabitants of 
our slave States, white and black ? 

The following, in its devilish atrocity, is worthy of asso- 
ciation with the case of torture at the Grreenwich Union : 

'' Eliza Cornish and John Cornish, by brutal treatment and 
starvation caused the death of Mark Cornish, a child of the 
latter by a former wife. The child was often seen eating offal. 
They were sentenced to fifteen years' transportation." — The 
Leader, Ajjrdl, 1853. 

About this time, much was said in the newspapers of 
England about the pernicious effects of what are called 
'^ burial-clubs," as incentives to murder; and several 
cases were reported of murders, by parents, of children, 
(who had been made members of these burial unions,) for 
the sake of the burial fees. You have the subject suc- 
cinctly referred to, and a case in point cited, in the fol- 
lowing extract : 

"There are then but two cases of late date which seem to 
deserve mention at our hands : the first is in Monday's papers, 
and is that of a- young mother, aged twenty, wilfully murdering 
her child, as stupidly as brutally, with oil of vitriol, for the 
mere sordid motive of obtaining the paltry gain to be got out 
of a burial club, of which the infant had been entered as a 
member. In the trial there is nothing peculiar to remark ; 
nor is there, we fear, in the wretched woman who was tried, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 335 

any such great peculiarity as there should be. So low is the 
moral cultivatiou of the classes by whose patronage burial 
clubs thrive, that among them the murder of members by their 
relatives for the fees is of almost constant occurrence — that 
even maternal instinct becomes distorted or destroyed. So 
low is their mental cultivation, that discovery always follows 
on their crime, and the secretary of the club hangs them, as 
they poisoned their acquaintances, neither from personal malice 
nor from public feeling, but simply with a calm and business- 
like view to the possession of the undertaking expenses. In 
this case the mother administers oil of vitriol to her child, and 
doubtless is surprised at the traces left by the dose — an argu- 
ment for or against education, seeing that the crime would 
not have been committed, had the criminal been properly 
trained ; and, on the other hand, that it would not have been 
discovered had she not l)een perfectly ignorant. The only 
question left by the dilemma is, whether to prevent be not 
better than to punish." — The Leader, April IQth, 1853. 

Ah, it is sad to think that poor little helpless children 
are continually doomed to suffer in the way we have seen 
throughout this kingdom — that such a cry of agony from 
infantile lips, caused by cruelty, during almost every 
hour of the day and night, in this great country, is thus 
perpetually uttered in the ear of God, whilst the great 
and powerful, and rich and good of the land, are deaf to 
these mournful sounds, because their ears are filled w4th 
the imaginary cries of some fictitious Uncle Tom, who 
groans beneath the slave-driver's lash upon the banks of 
the Red River. It is sad, indeed, to reflect that such 
sympathies are to a great extent expended and wasted 
upon our generally happy slaves — our slaves, who, with 
their children, enjoy the blessings of health, and food, and 
clothing, and cheerfulness, and content, while so many of 
these wretched little English children are suffering and 
dying in the way we have been contemplating. 

I will add one more case of recent occurrence, which 
exemplifies the astonishing and indescribable cruelty of 
parents to their offspring in this country : 

"cruel treatment of a child. 

Mr. a'Beckett was occupied until a late hour on Thursday 
in investigating charges against George Dalton and Amelia 



336 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

Holloway, for exercising great cruelty to Mary Ann Hollo- 
way, aged fifteen months, their illegitimate offspring. 

The additional evidence given on Thursday was of Hannah 
Willett, sister to the female prisoner, who said she lived with 
her husband at Manor-street, Chelsea, and she took care of 
the infant from the 12th ultimo until the 26th, when she de- 
livered it up to her sister, in her house at Brandon-row. No 
accident had occurred while she had it, and there was nothing 
the matter with it, except being a little sickly. There were 
marks of burns on one of the legs and on the chest, but they 
were healed up. Witness was perfectly sober when she de- 
livered the child up to the prisoner. 

Mr. James Moreton, house-surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospi- 
tal, said the child was brought to him by Mrs. Marley, the 
landlady, on Wednesday, the 4th inst., when he examined it 
and found the right fore arm was broken, and the left was also 
broken. The collar-bone was likewise broken, and scars of 
old burns were on the right leg from the knee downwards, and 
on the chest, just under the chin. The fractures appeared of 
some days' standing — either ten days or a fortnight. There 
were no marks of violence where the fractures were situated, 
neither did it appear that any bandages or splints had been 
used. The infant was extremely emaciated, thin, and weak. 
It seemed very greedy when food was offered to it, and wit- 
ness then considered it in danger. It had since taken food 
well, and was not in anywise incapacitated from so doing. 
The child had no positive disease, and was then out of danger. 
He was sure that no one could have nursed that child without 
knowing the frightful state it was in. 

Mr. a'Beckett, on hearing that there were no other witnesses, 
said he had made up his mind to commit the prisoners for 
trial, but as he understood from Mr. Moreton, the house-sur- 
geon of the hospital, that the child was not then in danger, 
he would accept bail for the prisoners' attendance at the 
sessions. 

Mr. Chester requested that twenty-four hours' notice should 
be given, as the charge was of a serious description. 

Mr. a'Beckett finally made that order, and the prisoners 
were removed by the jailor." — Sunday Times, Jaii. 15//?, 1854. 

I cannot afford room for more upon this subject than 
the following remarks by the editor whom I have several 
times quoted, and from whose paper, because it was the 
one most convenient to me, I have taken the greater 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 337 

number of the reports and extracts wliicli I liave sent 
you. The article was published some time during the past 
year. 

"CHRISTMAS SPORTS. 

Ecce iterum crispinus. The old story of brutality, brutality, 
always brutality, only remains to be told. Scoundrels well 
dressed and scoundrels ill dressed still continue to half murder 
helpless women. Marital disapprobation has assumed the 
form of conjugal death ; ' lovers' quarrels' have become sangui- 
nary executions, at least on the side of man the stronger ; and, 
to vary this Christmas cheer, little children, innocent, tender 
infants, have been all but immolated at the truculent shrine 
of savage irritability and slaughterous propriety. 

Two cases of recent child torture present themselves in pain- 
ful prominence to the mind's eye in connection with this ques- 
tion of practical impunity. On the Monday of the past week, 
a head nurse in a pauper establishment near Greenwich, was 
charged before the police magistrate of the district, with having 
taken a 'live coal' from the fire, placed it in the tiny hand of 
an infant of four years old under her * care,' held the little hand 
closed firmly over it until the coal was cold, and, while the 
flesh Avas hissing, threatened the sufferer, with an uplifted cane, 
if it cried or made the least disturbance. The fox eating out 
the heart of the young Spartan was a trifle to this. But, 
nevertheless, though the wretch acknowledged the next 
morning that she had committed a very cruel act, and though 
the cruelty, in all its hideous atrocity, was completely proved ; 
still the judge before whom she was sent to the Old Bailey, 
notwithstanding the jury found her guilty, sentenced her only 
to the inevitable 'fortnight,' without — it is almost a wonder 
— offering her the alternative of a forty shilling fine. It is to 
be hoped, however, that public indignation, which is never 
wrong in its abhorrence of such brutality — whatsoever may 
be said of judges, high and low — will play the part of Grand 
Justiciar on this occasion, and expel the wretch from human 
society. The case of the Sloanes was bad enough, God knows ! 
This, however, is a worse case. 

But there is even a worse still behind. A short time since 

another infant of tender years — perhaps about the same age 

— while passing by the Horse Guards with a poor — a very 

poor woman, her mother — was overtaken by a necessity which 

29 W 



338 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

all must yield to, and obliged to seek ease over an iron grating 
which covered the window of a kitchen or other subterranean 
office in that national edifice. While there the infantile crea- 
ture's body was actually cut into — her little bowels actually 
dissevered — by a sharp and pointed instrument, probably an 
office penknife, wielded by the hand of some human monster 
below ; and she now lies in a hopeless state in a public hospi- 
tal. The reader will of course cry out with horror, and asR 
whether the perpetrator of this abominable crime was not 
promptly secured ? The reply, however, will be in the nega- 
tive. " — Observer. 

In conclusion^ I beg to assure you, Major, tbat I 



remain, as ever, 



Eespectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jokes. 



To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTEE XXXV. 

CRUEL TREATMENT OE SERVANTS BY THE ENGLISH PEOPLE — 
CHARGE OF ATROCIOUS CRUELTY TO A SERVANT BY MR. 
AND MRS. SLOANE. 

' London, April 10th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — There is anotber of the domestic rela- 
tions of life among this people to wliicli I desire tliat your 
attention sball be drawn, in order tbat you may be able 
to institute a comparison between them, as a free-labor 
people, and the inhabitants of our States. That is, the 
relation of master and servant. 

Now, you may be prepared to expect, after what you have 
read of the brutal treatment of women and children by the 
people of this country, that such unnatural cruelty is 
manifested in their conduct towards servants also. I 
acknowledge that the inference is legitimate. But I am 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 339 

sure that you are not prepared for the enormity of the 
developments which are to be made upon this subject; 
and when you have read what I have to communicate, 
you will indeed wonder at the fatuity of those who throw 
stones from such a fragile structure. 

In the latter part of the year 1850, there occurred in 
this city a case of cruelty to a servant so diabolical and 
despicable as to render it incredible, if it had not been 
established by undoubted testimony. The proceedings 
against the offenders were first instituted in December, 
1850, but were not terminated until 1851 ; and I may 
therefore properly embrace them in the transactions of 
that year. I send you a portion of these proceedings 
before the police court, from which you may gather most 
of the facts. 



"CHARGE OF ATROCIOUS CRUELTY AGAINST MR. SLOANE, A 
SPECIAL PLEADER. 

On Friday, Mr. George Sloane, a special pleader, of No. 6 
Pump court, Temple, and one of the directors of the Church 
of Enghand Assurance Institution, Lothbury, appeared at the 
Guildhall police court in discharge of his bail, to answer the 
charge of cruelty practised upon his servant, Jane Wilbred, 
during a course of two years that she had been in his service. 
Mr. Sloane appeared quite collected. 

It was generally believed that this case was only remanded 
for the purpose of completing some of the depositions previous 
to sending it for trial ; nevertheless, at an early hour the doors 
of the justice-room were closed, in order to prevent the court 
from being inconveniently crowded during the proceedings. 
This proved a very necessary measure, as, by the time the 
alderman had taken his seat on the bench, a vast concourse of 
people, apparently for the most part composed of citizens and 
professional gentlemen, had collected in Guildhall yard, each 
anxious to gain admittance, and to catch a glimpse of the 
parties who had made themselves so horribly notorious. 

On Saturday w^eek a warrant was issued for the apprehen- 
sion of Mrs. Sloane, in order to insure her appearance at the 
examination on Friday, but on the officers visiting her residence 
for the purpose of executing the warrant, they found the fur- 
niture strewn about the room in great disorder, as if the occu- 
pants anticipated a sudden departure. The chambers under- 



340 THE SLAVEHOLDEH ABEOAD ; OE, 

went a strict seaivli then, and again two liours after, but Mrs. 
Sloane was nowhere to be found, althoug^h Mr. Philips (de- 
fendant's solicitor) assured the court and alderman, on the last 
examination, that she was unable to leave her bed through 
severe indisposition, caused by an injury she had sustained to 
her leg- by slipping it accidentally through an area railing. 
Such was the groat interest excited iu the minds of the people 
in consequence of the expected appearance of Mrs. Sloane, 
who appears to have acted with greater cruelty to the unfor- 
tunate girl than the defendant, Mr. Sloane, that there was such 
a crowd inside the justice room, and in every outlet of the 
court, as has not been known for many years. So general, 
indeed, was the excitement, that gentlemen were seen applying 
at every door of the building, and anxiously claiming acquaint- 
ance with the officials of the office, in order to obtain admission 
to this 'chamber of horrors.' 



Alderman Humphrey asked if Mrs. Sloane was present ? 

Eoe [the summoning officer of the court) : She is not, Sir. 

Alderman Humphrey : Did yon serve the summons ? 

Roe : I did. Sir. 

Alderman Humphrey : Was a warrant issued against her ? 

Eoe : There was, Sir. 

Alderman Humphrey : Did you serve it upon her ? 

Eoe : I served it at the house in Pump court. 

Alderman Humphrey : AVhom did you see there ? 

Eoe : I saw Mr. Sloane ; he opened the door to me, and 
said I was quite welcome to search the place, but he could 
assure me that Mrs. Sloane was not there. He said that Mrs. 
Sloane's friends had advised her not to attend here, but to sur- 
render to take her trial at the Old Bailey, so as to avoid having 
a public exposure at every examination by attending the pre- 
liminary proceedings. 

Alderman Humphrey : Did you search the chambers ? 

Eoe : Yes, Sir ; I searched every room twice ; but neither 
time did I see anything of Mrs. Sloane. 

Alderman Humphrey : Have you made any inquiries to 
ascertain where she has gone to ? 

Eoe : 1 have lodged the warrant in the hands of the police 
at Fleet street station, and told all the porters and messengers 
at the Temple to give information immediately they discover 
any trace of her, or see anything that might lead to her ap- 
prehension. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 341 

Alderman Humphrey : Have you any reason to believe that 
you will 1)0 able to find her ? 
Roe : Not at present, Sir. 

Alderman Humj)hrey : Then we must proceed with the case 
in her absence, and deal with it as tliough she were present. 

During these proceedings, Mr. Sloane, having received an 
intimation that his presence was required in the court, came 
from an adjoining room, and quietly took his seat in the body 
of the court. His back was turned to the audience, and he 
allowed his head to fall on his breast in such a manner as to 
screen him from the gaze of the multitude within and without, 
as if he wished to shrink from general observation. 

Mr. Huddlestone said he understood that the guardians of 
the West London Union had, since the last examination, 
called a meeting, at which it had been resolved tliat an appli- 
cation should be made to the Poor-law commissioners with 
reference to the present case, the result of which was that the 
Poor-law Board had issued an order for the guardians to carry 
on the prosecution against Mr. Sloane ; and he (Mr. Huddle- 
stone) was instructed for that purpose. 

Alderman Humphrey : I was quite sure that the Poor-law 
Commissioners would never have prevented the guardians from 
prosecuting had an application been made to them to that 
effect ; but the fact appeared that the guardians had not stirred 
in the matter, and Mr. Pontifex was afraid to do so without 
previously receiving his instructions from them. 

Mr. Pontifex said he was not afraid, but he was not compe- 
tent to act in such a matter without their sanction. 

The girl, Jane Wilbred, was then brought in and placed in 
a seat by the side of the Alderman. She appeared much 
stronger than on the last examination, but evidently much dis- 
tressed, from the excessive weakness under which she labored 
in endeavoring to support herself, without aid, in her seat. 
Her breathing was still very quick and difficult; and, although 
she has gained about seven pounds in weight since last week, 
she still presents a most emaciated appearance both in her face 
and limbs. She was dressed in a servant's plain dress, and, 
from the great improvement in her general appearance since 
she has been under Dr. Marsden's care, we are inclined to be- 
lieve that she will, when perfectly convalescent, turn out to be 
a pretty and interesting young girl. 

Mr. Huddlestone having intimated his intention of putting 
her under a re-examination, the usual oath was administered 
to her, and she continued her statement, and the following 
29* 



342 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

appallinc: and disirusling' details were elicited : [It will here be 
necessary to adhere to her evidence as she ccave it, as her own 
words will better ex]n-ess the atrocity of the defendant's con- 
duct, than any words we could substitute.] 

Jane Wilbred, re-examined by Alderman Humphrey and 
Mr. Huddlestone : ]\[r. Sloane often beat me ; sometinu^s in 
the morning early and sometimes in the daytime. Mrs. Sloane 
used to beat me because I wore my shift sleeves over my arms 
iind shoulders in the morniug- ; and when I cried Mr. Sloane 
used to beat me for crying. Mr. Sloane called me round to 
the bedside one morning and beat me on the hands with a shoe. 
]SIy mistress would not U^t me wear my shift on my shoulders 
and neck in the morning, and, because I wore it to keep me 
warm, she used to beat me on my back with a shoe. She 
would not let me wear anything on my neck, or any part of 
my body above the waist ; so that, from the waist u}nvards, I 
was obliged to go about the house exposed, in the presence 
of Mr. Sloane and the young lady [sensation]. Her name is 
Louisa Pevaux. ]My mistress Avanted me to do the work of a 
morning in that naked state [sensation], but I could not bear 
the cold, as it was in the winter time. I never went to church 
on Sunday, nor any place of worship. I never asked to be 
allowed to go, as I did not know any phice to go to. My 
master and mistress and Miss Devaux never went to church. 
My master sometimes went out on Sundays, but never remained 
out long. My mistress never left the house. There was always 
meat cooked on Sundays for Mr. and Mrs. Sloane, but I had 
none of it. 

Alderman Humphrey here said : I have been looking at the 
girl's hands, from the practice adopted here by the prisoners, 
to ascertain if they have been doing any laborious work, and 
I should say that the poor creature has been worked very hard 
indeed ; at all events, her hands bear strong testimony to that 
effect. 

"Witness continued : It was several months after I first went 
in July that I was treated badly. At first 1 was allowed to 
wear all my clothes ; but, as the winter came on, my mistress 
compelled me to go about the house with only my shift and 
gown tied round my waist by a petticoat, as she could not wait 
for me to put them on properly, or anything else to keep me 
warm. She told me very often that I must not wear anything 
on my neck and shoulders, but I do not recollect whether Mr. 
Sloane heard her or not. Mr. Sloane often beat me on the 
hands, arms, and back with a shoe, sometimes while I was 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 343 

having breakfast and sometimes after. At that time I had not 
as much as I could eat. I had moat sometimes three times a 
week. When my mistress could not make me eat my own dirt 
my master beat mo until he made me do it [groat sensation, 
and long-continued hisses were levelled at the defendant, who 
sat immovable in his chair, as if he was not at all concerned.] 

Mr. Sloane was not present when she at first 

attempted it, but he was when she succeeded in pushing it 
down my throat. He stood behind me, so as to keep me close 
in front of my mistress while she put it in my mouth [sensation]. 
He beat me on that occasion with a shoe because I refused to 
do as my mistress wanted, and he beat me again after it. This 
only hap])ened once in Mr. Sloane's presence, and that was 
about a fortnight before I was taken from his house. Some- 
times, if I forgot to scour the fender with ashes, or clean the 
footman on which the dinner is placed before the fire, Mr. 
Sloane would beat me on the arms, shoulders, and back witl^a 
shoe, in the presence of Mrs. Sloane and Miss Devaux. The 
latter was present when they made me eat my own dirt. [Great 
disgust was here manifested by all present, and it was with 
didiculty that order was ultimately restored.] 

Alderman Humphrey said : I wish to know, before proceed- 
ing any further, if this girl, Miss Devaux, is present ? 

Mr. Philips said : She is not present, as I was given to 
understand, on the last examination, that Mr. Sloane was to 
be committed to-day, and that the case was only remanded for 
that purpose. He was not prepared to meet another examina- 
tion at such a short notice ; but he did not complain, as 
Mr. Sloane was willing and anxious to court the fullest 
investigation. 

Mr. Huddlestone said : Under these circumstances, I would 
ask the alderman to remand the case to meet the convenience 
of defendant's counsel, as I by no means wish to take an undue 
advantage, particularly considering the position in which the 
defendant is at present placed ; but I shall certainly consider 
it my duty to continue the examination before sending the case 
to the Old Bailey, the more especially as there is now no 
danger 'to be apprehended from the state of the girl's health 
in pursuing such a course. If the case is remanded for a short 
time, I shall then take that opportunity of entering into the 
whole of the evidence, and I cannot help thinking that, if Mr. 
Sloane is well advised, he will have Mrs. Sloane here to answer 
this charge on the next examination. If she does not appear 
then, I shall deem it my duty to ask you Sir, not to accept 



344 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABEOAD ; OE, 

bail for Mr. Sloane's appearance at the January sessions, but 
to commit him to Newgate to await his trial. 

Mr. Philips said : I must protest against such a principle 
being adopted with regard to my client, who has always been 
most anxious that every inquiry should be made, and has given 
every assistance to such inquiry in his power. 

Mr. Huddlestoue suggested that the amount of bail should 
be increased. 

Alderman Humphrey said : I think it will be expedient to 
increase the bail, as, in the absence of Mrs. Sloane, it was but 
natural that the court should come to the conclusion that the 
defendant, having screened his wife, would be quite as unwil- 
lino- to o'o through the ordeal himself. 

Mr. Philips : I object to the principle of increasing the bail, 
altliough there would be no difficulty in doing so ; still, I can- 
not see the necessity for such a proceeding, as the defendant 
hm already appeared twice to the same amount. With regard 
to the threat held out by the learned counsel for the prosecu- 
tion, I beg to assure the worthy alderman that he cannot 
refuse to accept bail if offered, as it is a bailable offence. At 
all events, if justice is not allowed my client here in that respect, 
I know where to seek it. 

Mr. Huddlestone : Perhaps, Mr. Philips, you will recollect 
the words of Mr. Sloane when the officer went to his house. 
There can be no other construction put upon them but that he 
was instrumental in keeping a witness out of the way. 

Alderman Humphrey : Will you, Mr. Philips, give bail for 
Mrs. Sloane's appearance [laughter] ? 

Mr. Philips : Is it reasonable to ask me. Sir? Would any 
man in his right senses give bail for ' any woman' as to what 
she would do [laughter] ? I would not. 

Alderman Humphrey : Then I shall increase the amount of 
bail, and shall require Mr. Sloane to find two sureties of <£'250 
each, and himself to be bound over in the sum of <£500 to ap- 
pear and answer the charge on the next examination [great 
applause follow^ed this announcement, but was instantly sup- 
pressed]. 

Some discussion ensued upon this point, when a gentleman 
on the bench rose and said, * As one of the guardians of the 
West London Union, I object to the present amount of bail.' 

The amount of bail as above mentioned was then agreed upon. 

Mr. Sloane, during some slight confusion that followed, 
went into an adjoining room, and there waited until the required 
bail was forthcoming. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 345 

In the interim, the following letter was read, dated — 

^Hastings, December 19//?. 

' Dear Sir : If I knew the address of Mr. Pontifex, I would 
not trouble you with this ; but, as you heard the case, I thoup;ht 
it better to mention the circumstance to you, so that, if you 
think it necessary, he may be made acquainted with it. 

'A young woman called on me yesterday and stated that 
she had heard of the Sloanes being charged witli great cruelty 
to a servant girl, and that as she had lived with tliem some 
time since, and had also been treated very cruelly by them, she 
wished to know if her evidence would be of any use in further- 
ing the ends of justice. 

' I am aware that in this particular case she will be of no 
service, but at the trial, as some proof of the general treat- 
ment of their servants, perhaps her evidence might be of some 
importance. 

' I trust you will excuse the trouble I am giving you, even 
to read this, but trusting that the gross nature of the case of 
those people will be a sufficient apology, 

* I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, 

*F. TiERHURST, Surgeon. 

'The girl's name is Mary A. Stokes, 14 Bourne street, 
Hastings.' " — Observer, December 2M, 1850. 

The following commentary on these proceedings was 
made by the editor of the paper in which they were 
published : 

"the case of MR. SLOANE. 

Mr. Sloane was again before the police magistrate at Guild- 
hall, on Friday last, on the charge of cruelty to his servant, 
Jane Wilbred. It was a re-examination for the purpose of 
including Mrs. Sloane in the preliminary proceedings, but that 
lady did not appear. Indeed it was stated, substantially, by 
her husband's legal adviser, that she did not intend to surren- 
der uiiti] the case was sent for trial, in order to avoid pubhc 
exposure. The facts, in so far as they transpired at that re- 
examination, will be found elsewhere ; but though there was 
little that is new elicited, that little was not without its own 
degree of painful interest, and coupled \vith the other circum- 
stances that have been sworn to, it cannot be concealed that 
its tenor is extremely prejudicial to the accused parties. 



346 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

The additional evidence of Jane Wilbred was to this effect, 
viz. : that not only was she beaten by Mr. and Mrs. Sloane 
for wearing her shift sleeves over her arms and shoulders of a 
morning' in cold weather, but that she was actually compelled 
bv her "mistress to ' go about the house,' naked from the waist 
upwards, 'in the presence of her master,' and of a young per- 
son named Louisa Devaux, who lived ' in chambers' along with 
them ; and that she was beaten by master as well as mistress, 
if she did not do her work in that exposed condition. Further 
she deposed, touching the disgusting act which she alleges Mr. 
and Mrs. Sloane compelled her to perform, and to which public 
attention has been so painfully directed 

These 'additional facts' aggravate very materially the case 
as against the accused parties, and place Mr. Sloane and his 
wife in a position by no means free from great danger. Of 
course, statements made in a direct examination, such as the 
girl was subjected to, are liable to implication on cross-exami- 
nation ^ and, generally speaking, there are few of them that 
cannot in some sort be modified, if not changed, by that search- 
ing procedure. Upon the first examination of Jane Wilbred, 
there was no cross-examination, because her physical condition 
was too much reduced to permit it, and the counsel for the 
accused voluntarily and humanely waived his right ; but since 
then there have been two further ' examinations in chief of the 
girl — one on last Saturday week, and one on the following 
Friday ; and though Jane Wilbred has regained suflncient 
bodily strength to submit to the ordeal of the severest cross- 
examination, no cross-examination was even attempted upon 
either occasion. To deduce any inference of the guilt or in- 
nocence of the accused from this omission on their parts to 
exercise an undoubted right, which, in the circumstances they 
are placed in, must also be held to be an imperative duty, 
would be manifestly unjust ; but it cannot be concealed, because 
it is patent to the understanding of all persons, that the absti- 
nence of their counsel from this course, on Saturday, and his 
absence from the court on the following Friday, are facts by 
no means calculated to improve — on the contrary, they are 
eminently calculated to damage — their legal position. 

Furthermore, the fact that Louisa Devaux, who was," accord- 
ing to the testimony of Jane Wilbred, constantly present at 
all these proceeding, has not been produced to repel the evi- 
dence of the girl, will be held as by no means favorable to the 
case of Mr. and Mrs. Sloane. Although there is no direct 
statement to that effect in the evidence of Jane Wilbred, yet it 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 347 

is inferentially certain that Louisa Devaux was a witness of 
her treatment by the accused parties ; seeing that it would be 
utterly impossible there could be concealment of any kind 
within the compass of the three comparatively small rooms, in 
which all four lived together ; these rooms opening into each 
other, be it remembered, and being only separated by wainscot 
partitions, through which the slightest sound could be heard. 

Mr. Sloane and Mrs. Sloane may be perfectly innocent in the 
matter, as already supposed ; they may be the victims of a degree 
of malicious cunning which is absolutely inconceivable ; but sup- 
posing the contrary to be the case, to talk of Torquemada and 
the horrors of the Inquisition, after the statement of the child 
Jane Wilbred, is to talk without data for a comparison. Such 
a case, in fact, has never before been imagined ; and if it be 
well founded, it will perhaps more than any other that is 
known, justify the profound observation of the philosopher — 
* Truth is strange — stranger than fiction.' " — Observer, Dec. 
23i, 1850. 

You will observe what the editor says — to the effect 
that Mr. and Mrs. Sloane '^ viay he perfectly innocent in 
the matter." But it was, in the end, shown that they 
were not innocent in the matter. The editor's inferences, 
in the event of their guilt, are therefore to be drawn : 
viz., that the horrors of the Inquisition were without data 
for a comparison. 

For the present, I must take leave of the subject, and 
of you, with the assurance that I remain, sir, 

EespectfuUy, 

Yr. obt. servt., 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Gra., U. S. of America. 

* They both pleaded guilty to all the charges against them, except 
that of furnishing insuflRcient food to the girl. — At the Central Criminal 
Court, February bth, 1851. 



348 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR^ 



LETTEE XXXVI. 

CRUELTY TO A ^' SMALL SERVANT;'' OR, THE ^' MARCHIONESS " 

DUPLICATED QUERE : HAVE SAMPSON AND SALLY BRASS 

TRANSFERRED THEIR ABODE TO GREAT CARTER LANE, DOC- 
TOR'S COMMONS BUCK ATTENDS AN INVESTIGATION, IN 

WHICH IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MR. RICHARD SWIVELLER 
MAY HAVE BEEN INTERESTED — HE (bUCK) DISCOURSES WITH 
A BENEVOLENT ENGLISHMAN UPON THE ADVANTAGES OP 
THE RELATION OE MASTER AND SLAVE IN GEORGIA OVER 
THAT OF MASTER AND SERVANT IN ENGLAND. 

London, April 14th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — If you deem tlie infamous case of the 
Sloanes, with which I made you acquainted in my last, 
exceptional in its intensity of atrocity, you may be right. 
But you may rest assured that treatment of 'servants 
similar to this, though not so exceedingly disgusting and 
depraved, is not unusual in this country ; and that Mr. 
Dickens drew from nature when he sketched his portraits 
of Sally Brass and her ^^ small servant." If you are not 
already convinced of this, you must be by the case which 
I next furnish you. It is so remarkable a likeness, that 
it is almost impossible to resist the impression that Samp- 
son and Sally Brass, since Mr. Dickens lost sight of them, 
have ceased to prowl about " the inmost recesses of St. 
Giles," and instead of returning to Bevis Marks, and the 
attorney's office (but still hanging on to the skirts of the 
law), have " settled down " in No. 14, Great Carter Lane, 
Doctors Commons, and have managed to find another 
'^ Marchioness." 



'ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A SERVANT. 

At Guildhall, on Tuesday, Mary Anne Targett, aged seven- 
teen, was charged on remand before Alderman Hooper with 
stealing a piece of bread, value twopence, the property of a 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 349 

policeman. Owing to allegations respecting the treatment of 
the girl in the service of Mr. and Mrs. Fells, of 14, Great 
Carter-lane, Doctor's Commons, the following facts were 
elicited: — Fanny Targett, of 8, Union-court, Holborn, said 
that the prisoner was her illegitimate daughter, and that she 
had complained of want of food and of being beaten severely 
with a rolling-pin. Owing to what prisoner said of witness 
to Mrs. Fells, witness was forbidden the house, and saw the 
prisoner but twice since December. The prisoner, in her mis- 
tress' presence, denied that she had complained to witness of 
the want of food, and said that witness was a liar. — Justinia 
Frances, matron of Giltspur-street, said, that on prisoner's 
admission there were bruises on her right side, and back, and 
shoulders, as from a stick, and on her hip from a kick which 
she said her master had given her. Her hands indicated hard 
work. Her knuckles were swollen, and the joint of one finger, 
on her left hand, was nearly worn off. — Alderman Hooper said 
that this was the first case that had come before him under 
the 14th Yict., passed in consequence of Sloane's case. — Mary 
Ann Targett was put in the box, and said she was two years 
with Mr. and Mrs. Fells. She had three meals a day, some- 
times four, and sometimes but two. She had three slices of 
bread and dripping for breakfast, one slice for supper, bread 
and meat for dinner, but never enough. On Wednesday last, 
on taking up some meat for dinner, her master said, ' Do you 
see that ?' and then he said, * That is all you will have,' mean- 
ing that the sight of the meat was sufficient. She got no 
dinner that day. She then described various beatings as 
having been given by Mr. and Mrs. Fells, and said that she 
was so hungry at times that she was glad to get bread any- 
where, and on discovering the policeman's safe she took the 
bread out of it. — Mr. Fells not being in court, the alderman 
said that Mrs. Fells might now question the girl. — Mrs. Fells 
then questioned her as to several alleged thefts, which the girl 
denied, and Mrs. Fells then stated that so far from the girl 
being hard worked she was not called from the kitchen more 
than once in ^even hours. She had on several occasions when 
the girl robbed her, given her a choice of three things, viz., 
to send her home, to give her a good beating, or to give her in 
charge ; and she preferred the beating. — The case was then 
remanded." — Observer, September Ist, 1851. 

After reading the above, it seems almost certain that 
those who were in the Guildhall on that day, if they had 
30 



350 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

looked sharply about tliem, miglit have detected Mr. 
Richard Swiveller among the audience — that Kit Nub- 
bles mast have been close at hand, and old Mr. Garland, 
and the pony at the door. Even now, I am not sure 
whether the following occurred in Bevis Marks, or Great 
Carter Lane. 

^^ ^Do you see this?' said Miss Sally, slicing off about 
two square-inches of cold mutton, after all this prepara- 
tion, and holding it out on the point of the fork. 

The small servant looked hard enough at it with her 
hungry eyes to see every shred of it, small as it was, and 
answered, ^ Yes.' 

^ Then don't you ever go and say,' retorted Miss Sally, 
' that you hadn't meat here. There ; eat it up.' 

This was soon done. ' Now, do you want any more ?' 
said Miss Sally. 

The hungry creature answered with a faint ' No.' They 
were evidently going through an established form. 

' You have been helped once to meat,' said Miss Sally, 
summing up the facts, ' you have had as much as you can 
eat, you're asked if you want any more, and you answer 
' No.' There ; don't you ever go and say you were allow- 
anced, mind that.' " 

There was an inmate of the house where I boarded, 
who was in some way connected with the service of the 
ojB&cials at Guildhall. I never precisely understood the 
nature of his duties, nor does it matter. Suffice it to say 
that we became very well acquainted ; and one day, after 
the first remand of the girl Targett, he mentioned the 
case, and the charges which were made against her em- 
ployers. I was interested, and hinted my wish to be pre- 
sent when the girl was again brought before the court. 
He promised to give me notice of this, if possible, and he 
did so ; but I was prevented by some cause from being 
present. Buck, to whom I mentioned the circumstance, 
asked to go, and was permitted. The examination was 
that I have already given you; but that night Buck made 
to me a faithful report of what occurred, which I have 
daguerreotyped for your amusement, S.nd will send you. 

^' Marster," said he, '' I went to the court-house to-day, 
you know, sir, to see that gal tried." 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 351 

''Ah, yes. I intended to ask you about it/' said I. 

Buck. '^ Mr. B got me in nicely, sir, and I seed 

and lieerd everything. They called it a trial of the gal, 
sir ; but, ef you'll bleeve my racket, hit was more of a 
trial of her marster and mistress. The mother of the gal 
was made a evidence first, sir, and she swored that the 
gal was her chile, but was sort of a — of a — what do you 
call 'um, sir ? — a sort of a woods-colt, sir, an that the gal 
come an told her how she was starved, an how they beat 
her with a great big flour-pin, all over her carcass, sir ; 
an that, when she went to complain to the mistress of the 
gal about them doins to her darter, the gal was so skaard, 
she jest up an called her own mother a liar, sir, an said 
she never told her no sich thing. 

Then come up another eYidence, — a lady, sir, what kept 
the poor-house whar the gal was tuk to, an she swored 
that, when the gal come thar, she was all covered with 
wounds, sir ; an the gal told her, said she, that her mars- 
ter an mistress done it — that her hands was all crippled, 
an one on her fingers had a jint clean wored away. When 
I heerd this, I felt so sorry for the gal, Marster, I didn't 
know what to do ; an so, sir, says I, out loud, 'fore I 
knowed what I was about, says I, ' Frost-bit,' says I. 
With that, sir, the beagle, he rushed towards me " 

Ml/self. '' Beadle ! What was a beadle doing there ?" 

Buck. *' Leastwise a pleeceman, sir ; an his conseqtceiice 
made him look so big, sir, tell I thought 'bout that beagle 
that we see at St. Paul's, thar. An so, as I was tellin on 
you, Marster, the pleeceman said, says he, ' Silence !' 
Jest then, sir, I was tuk with sich a admiration of the 
bald head of a ole gen'l'man that stood by the side of an 
a little before me, sir, that the ofiicer didn't spect me, I 
think, an couldn't 'zackly tell whar the interruption come 
from. Well, sir, then they put up the gal herself as a 
evidence, an that poor crittur's tale, Marster, would a 
melted a heart o' stone. She said she was two years with 
them Fellses — her marster an mistress — that sometimes 
she had vittels but two times a day, that when she got 
some supper hit was only one slice of bread, that she got 
some meat only once a day, — that was at dinner, — but 
that she never had enough to eat; that last Wednesday, 



352 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

for lier dinner, her marster tuk up a piece of meat an 
showed it to her, an said " 

Myself. [Suiting the action to the word.] " Do you see 
this ?" 

Buck. [Surprised into indiscretion.] '^ The dickens, 
Marster ! How did you know it ?" 

Myself. '^ You are right, Buck. The Dickens accounts 
for the how." 

Buck. '^Anan, sir ! Somebody that was thar told you, 
Marster." 

Myself. " Yes, some one told me who was there in spi- 
rit, Buck — there, by his a;enius, before it happened." 

Bitck. '^ My Lord!" 

Myself. " Only he said that it was Sally, and not 
Sampson, who held up the meat, and show^ed it to the 
small servant." 

Buck. " Well, ef hit was so, hit was onbeknowns to 
me. I won't say the gal didn't say so, ef that gen'l 'man's 
sperit says she did. But I onderstood her to say that hit 
was her marster, sir, an I didn't hear her say ef his name 
was Samson — hit mought a been ; only I hope that her 
mistress wasn't named Sally, becase that's the name of 
my wife, sir, you know ; an I should hate mightily for 
her to have the same name with that 'oman." 

Myself. "Go on with your story ; though I suppose I 
can tell you what followed. Of course, Avhen he gave her 
the little scrap of meat, he said, ' There ; eat it up, and 
don't you ever go and say you haven't meat here." 

Buck. " 'No, sir I The sperit was out 'bout that cir- 
cxnustauce, sartain. He never gin her the meat, sir, at 
all. He jest showed it to her, Marster, an made hei 
mouth water for it bad, an then never gin her none." 

Myself. " Well, I suppose I am wrong, and the truth 
here again is stranger than fiction. Go on." 

Buck. ^^Let me see — whar was I? Oh! the gal said 
when her marster showed her the meat, sir, says she, he 
gin her no dinner, says she, an she was almost starved. 
Then she said, says she, her marster an mistress sorter 
tuk it by turns, an thrashed an beat her constant ; an 
bomby she growled so monstrous hongry that she tuk 
bread any whar she could find it, says she ; an when she 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 353 

seed the pleeceman's bread, she couldn't help takin hit, 
sir. Marster, I coukln't stand it no longer — I was so 
sorry for the poor starvin child, I didn't think 'bout her 
sin, an I couldn't help from cryin, Marster. I couldn't 
do it, sir. Tm not ashamed to say, sir, I felt like my 
heart would break with pity for the poor thing. I got 
right out of that room, Marster, quick as I could. How- 
beever, 'fore I got out, I heerd the gal's mistress say as 
how what the gal said wasn't so, cepin some of the beat- 
ins, says she. But, Marster, she couldn't deny them, 
becase tliar was the wounds what that materon spoke of ; an 
the gal's looks told the truth as to the rest, ef she didn't. 

As I was turnin to go out of the room, Marster, I felt 
somebody pat me saftly on the shoulder, sir ; an when I 
looked round, who should it be but the same ole gen'l'man 
whose bald head I stared at so when that constable was 
sarchin for me. He was a mighty good-natured lookin 
ole gen'l'man, with specs on " 

Myself. " I think I know him. He was a little fat 
man, wasn't he, with a club-foot ? Wasn't his name 
Garland?" 

Buck. " Not as I knows on, Marster ; but I didn't 
heer his name, an I didn't see any club-foot, sir ; though 
there mought a been. Did that sperit tell you so, sir ?" 

Myself. '^Ah ! never mind. I suppose I was mistaken. 
G-o on. Buck." 

Buck. " Well, the ole gen'l'man follered me out an 
patted me on the shoulder agin, jest as my mammy used 
to do, Marster, an he said, says he, ' My good man, you 
seem to be very sorry for that poor gal, an so am I,' says 
he. ' Is she anything to you — do you know her?' 

' Never sot eyes on her 'fore, Marster,' says I, jest so. 
* I don't know nuthin 'bout her, sir. I was jest sorry for 
her,' says I, 'as I would be for any poor crittur that haint 
got enough to eat,' says I, ' an is 'bused an momicked up 
so badly.' 

'Ah ! that was very bad an sad, says he ; an the ole 

gen'l'man's eyes looked very watery, Marster — jest for 

all the world like he 'ud cry at the drap of a hat. ' But 

you're a black man,' says he, ' an you call me, that you 

30* X 



354 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

never seed afore, "Marster,"' says he: ' from ^vhieh I 
infer vou have been a slave,* says he. '^lu I right?' 

'Adzackly so, Marster ; an 1 is yet, thank God !' says I, 
jest so. 

The ole genTmau, he opened them hig kind eyes of 
liisen mighty wide at that, an says, says he, 'What is this 
I hear? You're a shxve? AVhar is vour marster?' savs 
he. 

*At ISTo. — , in the Strand, sir,* sa;#5 T. He is a gon'l'- 
man from Greorgy, sir; Dr. Jones is his name, sir.' says I. 
* Praps you've heern of him.' says I. ' He come out hero 
for his heahh, an to show a new plough at the Exerbishun,' 
says I ; ' an I come along to take care of him, sir,' says I. 
Then he axed me somehow so, Marster — 'How oomes 
it,' says he, ' that you, bein you're a slave, an aeeustomed, 
I serpose, to the cruel treatment slaves receive from their 
marsters, have been so easilv teched bv this c:ars wrongs ?' 
says he. 

'Fact is, Marster,' says I. 'I spose, ef I was usen to 
the like, I wouldn't a minded it much,' says I ; 'an it's 
becase I never seed nor heerd the like, in all my born 
days, that I was so powerful sorry for the gal,' says I, 
jest so. 

'What!' says he; 'what! do you mean to say the 
slaveholders don't treat their slaves with cruelty in Ame- 
riky ?' says he. 

* Marster," says I. ' ef you was to see a cripple, sir, 
what went upon crutches, take and break his crutches, 
what he depended upon to git 'long with,' says I, 
'' wouldn't you say he was crazy, or a natral fool one ?' 
says I, jest so. 

' Well, I think hit's likely, my man. that I shoidd make 
some sich retlecshun,' says he. 

'Adzackly, Marster,' says I : ' an yit yon think the 
slaveholders is fool enough to 'buse an injnre thar 
niggers, what they depends upon to ^it along with,' says 
I. ' Besides, Marster, I have allers lieern that thar was 
a law in my country to perwent ill-treatment and cruelty 
to the slaves : though sometimes I've heern the white folks 
say thar wasn't much use for it. so tar as the owners was 
consarned.* An ef you could jest see how fast our little 

* See App.. E. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 3f>0 

niggers increase, Marster, an how many on 'urn grows up, 
an now many gits to be powerful old, you wouldn't bleeve 
that any on 'um, old or young, was 'bused or bad treated 
much,' says I.* 

' But do they allers sup[;]y 'um with sufficient food an 
clothing, my man?' says he. 

' Marster,' says I, ' spose them crutches what the crip- 
ple goes on was two animils ; do you think,' says I, * the 
owner would feed 'um well, ef he could 'ford it, so they- 
could go 'long smartly with him? or do you think he 
would starve 'um, tell they was weak an sickly, like that 
poor gal we been seein ?' says I, jest so. 

' Why,' says he, laffin, ' I think hit's likely, my man, 
that he would keep them substute legs of hisen, ef he 
could, in pretty good marchin order,' says he. ' But 
came,' says lie, ' I think I see the rift of your answer,' 
says he " 

MijHclf. "Drift, Buck; drift of your answer was what 
he said, I suppose." 

Buak. " Well, drift or rift ; whatever it was, sir, I 
spose he meant that I was 'bout right, sir, an ro he went 
on to say, 'Hit is sensible,' says he, 'an sartainly seems 
reasonable. But hit is very much opposed to what we 
read an hear on the subject,' says he. 'Let us come to 
the point a little clgser,' says he, ' an tell me ef you know 
how much food is given to a slave in the cotton States, as 
his daily supply, an how much clothing every year,' says 
he. 

' We lives on a cotton plantation, Marster,' says I, 
' when at home, an I know adzackly what the slaves git, 
becase I gives out the 'lowances myself, sir, for my mistress 
sometimes, an the 'lowance everywhar in our neighborhood 
is 'bout the same,' says I. ' Our plantation people, sir,' says 
I, 'gits thar 'lowance onct a week, every Saturday night. 
They gits every week three pounds an a half of bacon,' says 
I, ' an one peck o' meal (what I have larnt, since I been 
here, you call Indian-corn meal, or flour), the run of the 
turnip-patch, or sometimes peas, to cook with their bacon, 
ef they wants to, an sometimes cabbages, or collards, or 
other vegetables. In roastin-ear time,' says I, (' that's 

* See App., K. Also, App., F. 



356 THE SLAVEIIOLDEK ABE0A1\; OK, 

Avlioii tlio ooni is riponiu, Marstor/ says I,) '.tliey gits as 
many roastin ears as tliey wants. The young uns have 
milk, an soniotiuios all git taters — that's sweet taters, 
Marster,' says I. ' Et iVosli boot' is gin out, more by two 
pounds for one is give for tlie 'lowaneo,' says I. ' iSoniotimos 
salt lisli is gill out in place of the meat, in 'bout the same 
perportion,' says I. ' But ginerly, bacon is the stand- 
by/ says I ; ' though frequently morlasses is put in place 
.of some of the meat — 'bout a pint for a pound,' says L* 
' The house-sarvants,' says I, ' has the same what the 
people in the gret-house has,' says I ; ' but all has a 
plenty, Marster, so fur as I know. Thar's this day more 
bread an meat 'bout my cabin, whar my young uns has 
put it tell they git liongry, than that poor gal et in a 
week,' says I. 'Poor thing!' says I; ' I wish she had 
some on it now. As for clothes, Marster, the plantation 
folks ginerly gits two suits — more on 'urn, of them wars 
out. One suit of cotton stuff for summer, an one of 
mixed wook^n for winter. Then they gits two cotton 
shirts, an sometimes one flannel shirt, one hat, two pair 
of shoos, — some gives one, but haves 'um cobbled an kep 
good, — an a blanket every other year. The women some- 
times gits bod-clothin besides.' f 

' How many hours in the day is the skives required to 
work, my man ?' says he. J 

' No set time, adzackly, Marster,' says I. ' In some 
places they has tasks sot for 'um,' says I. ' The smart 
ones ginerly gits through thar tasks tolerable yearly; 
some on 'um, in summer, does it two or three hours by 
sun. The slow ones, or the lazy,' says I. ' is later, in 
course,' says I. ' But the task is sot 'cordin to the age 
an strength of the hand, Marster,' says I, jest so. ' When 
they gits through thar task, then they has time to work 
in thar own crap,' says I ; ' which all on 'um .that aint 
good for nuthin ginerly has ground gin to 'um for thar 
craps by thar boss,' says I.§ 

' By who, my man ?' says the ole gon'l'man. 

* See App., D, §§o. 27. 47. 60. 83. 90. 
f See App.. D., t'oi- clothing furnished slaves. 
X See App., P, U 15. o7, 57, 73. 80. 10l2 
I See App., D., ||23, 27, 47. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 357 

' By the marstor or tliG manager, sir/ Bays I ; ' an they 
kin make a little crap for tharselves, ef they choose/ says 
I. ' But in our parts, ginerly,' says I, ' we don't have 
no tusks. We goes to work 'bout good daylight — 'bout 
same time everybody goes in the morning. We works 
till breakfast-time, then stops for breakfast for 'bout half 
a hour,' or sich a matter,' says I. ^Then we goes out, 
says I, an works tell 'bout twelve. Then we comes in, an 
sich of us as is workin animils feeds 'um, an we eats our 
dinners, an rests tell 'bout two — in some places they rests 
only tell 'bout half-past one,' says I. ' Then we goes out 
an works tell 'bout dusk. Most everybody,' says I, ' 'lows 
some time on Saturday (whar they don't set tasks), for 
the hands who is got craps of their own to work 'um,' 
says I. 

' Is no work required of the slaves at night ?' says the 
ole gon'l'man. 

'No, Marster,' says I; ' cepin sometimes with the 
hands that tends the gin. When thar's a press of work, 
they may have to work into the night a little in the winter 
time; but taint ginerly so.' 

' But do marsters ginerly treat thar slaves accordin' 
to the very reasonable an humane system you have been 
describin ?' says he. 

' Yes, Marster — leastwise, it's a terrerble bad man that 
don't do it, sir; an that's the ricommendation all his 
nabers gives him, sartain,' says I, jest so. 

' How 'bout marriage, my man?' says the ole gen'l'man; 
'how 'bout the sanctity of marriage — the want of that 
religious tie among the sexes, an the separation of fami- 
lies ?' says he. 

' Well, Marster,' says I, ' thar's reglar marriages 'mong 
us slaves; an we lives together, an brings up our famblies, 
jest like white people an Christians. Our marsters likes 
to git up marriages 'mong us,' says I, ' an they don't like 
no loose livin an bad gwine on 'mong thar sarvants,' says 
I — ' becase why, Marster? Becase childern don't come 
of that sort o' thing, Marster ; an thar's mighty apt to be 
childern whar's thar's marriages,' says I, jest so; 'an 
the more little niggers our marsters has, sir,' says I, ' the 
more richer they gits to be, an the more they has for thar 



358 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

cliildern wlio is to come arter tliem/ says I. ' Besides/ 
says I; ^ wlien the sarvants is married, it keeps 'um steady 
at home, or at thar wife's house ; an they keeps more fitter 
for work, an more healthier, an so they does more work, 
an saves doctors' bills, you know,' says I. 'So, ef I kin 
lead you into the light of hit rightly, Marster,' says I, 
' you will see how our marsters' intrust makes 'um encou- 
rage marrying 'mong thar sarvants,' says I, jest so.* 

' Who marries 'um?' says he. 

' Sometimes the preacher,' says I, ' sometimes the mars- 
ter or the mistress,' says I. ' I've heerd my marster say,' 
says I, ' that hit wasn't done zackly 'cordin to Hoyle,' 
says I, jest so; 'but still, ef a lawyer could drive his 
buggy through hit, says my marster,' says I, 'hit's all 
right in the sight of God — hit's a religious tie, says he. 
An so our marsters tries to keep us together, sir,' says I, 
'an teeches us to bring up our famblies decently,' says I. 

'Ah ! but you are liable to be separated at any time,' 
says the ole gen'l'man. 

'Well, Marster, there's no denyin that,' says I. ' How- 
beever, the white people ginerly is powerful strong sot 
agin separatin famblies. f Still, Marster, I know some- 
times, specially when they's sold for debt, famblies gits 
separated. But, in my soul, I don't bleeve, Marster, that 
they gits any more separated than 'mong the poor suf- 
ferin workin people of this country, ef as much,' says I, 
jest so. 

Jest then, Marster, the crowd come out of the house, 
an me an the ole gen'l'man got parted." 

It is time, Major, that I had parted from this long let- 
ter, and that I had subscribed myself, 
Respectfully, 

Yr. obt. servt. and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Maj. J. Jqtn^es, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 

* See App., C, §24. 
. t See App., ^^23, 45, 64, 82, 94, 111. Also, App., K., §2. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 359 



LETTER XXXVII. 

MURDER OF A SERVANT BY HER MASTER AT THRANDESTON 

ASSAULT BY A MILITARY OFFICER ON HIS FEMALE SER- 
VANT — A FIRST-CLASS HAND IN A FIRST-RATE MILLINER's. 

London, April 18th, 1854. 

Dear Ma joe: — Continuing the subject of the treat- 
ment, by the English people, of their servants, I mention 
that in the year 1852 a man was tried and convicted, at 
Bury St. Edmunds, for the murder of his servant. I send 
you a succinct report of the case : 

"MURDER AT THRANDESTON. 

At Bury St. Edmunds, on Wednesday, John Mickleburgh, 
aged forty-two, was indicted for the wilful murder of Mary 
Baker, at Thrandeston, on the 1st of August last. The de- 
ceased, Mary Baker, was the servant of the prisoner, who is a 
small freeholder and occupier of land at Thrandeston. On 
the 31st of July last the village fair took place, and, by the 
consent of Mrs. Mickleburgh, Mary Baker went to the fair, 
where she met a lover, named William Bootman, her sister 
Clara French, and her sister's husband. While they were at 
the fair the prisoner joined them and treated them to two half- 
pints of wine ; and, after avsking Mary Baker when she was to 
go home, and learning that she was to go back by half-past 
nine, told Mrs. French to ask her to go home by nine o'clock, 
as he wished to see her in the Low Meadow. No notice of 
this was taken by Mary Baker, who went aljout to several 
places of amusement. At length Mary Baker and Bootman 
entered a public house and sat down in a crowded room, when 
the prisoner, without any warning or apparent motive, rushed 
into the room and stabbed Mary Baker in the right side. Pie 
was immediately seized and deprived of the weapon, while the 
poor girl was led up stairs, and a medical man and a police 
officer was called in. When the policeman came the prisoner 
avowed that he had stabbed the girl intentionally for the sake 



360 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

of revenge, and that he had always ' done as lie pleased witli 
her,' and that if she got well and did not accede to his pro- 
posals he would shoot her. Subsequently, in the station-house, 
he stated that ' ho hoped she would die ; that he had bought 
the knife on purpose to stab her.' I'he poor girl died of the 
wound on tlie following day.^ — ^Piie defence set u}) was insanity, 
but this did not succeed, and the prisoner was convicted and 
sentenced to undergo the punishment of death." — Ohnervei', 
iVarch 2Wi, 1852. 

According to tliis rufHan's own account, you will per- 
ceive that he had '^ always done as he pleased " with his 
servant ; and when his wishes and his will are thwarted 
by her, he nuirdors her. 

That you may see how gentlemen sometimes treat their 
servants here, I send you the following account of the 
conduct of a captain in the British army to his house- 
maid. He was convicted and punished for the assault 
before a magistrate of the city. The circumstances were 
regarded as very disgraceful, and they serve to exemplify 
tlio folly of such people undertaking to lecture us upon 
the treatment of our slaves. 



" ASSAULT BY A MILITARY OFFICER ON HIS FEMALE SERVANT. 

At the Marylebone Court, on Tlnu'sday, Captain Henry 
ITngh Clayton, residing at No. 1, Woodlield-terrace, Ilarrow- 
road, was charged on a warrant before Mr. Long, with having 
assaulted Eliza Remington, about twenty-six years old, his 
housemaid, 'i'he complainant said that on the 24th of Novem- 
ber last, the Captain made overtures to her of an improjicr 
nature, which she repulsed. On the afternoon of the same 
day, while she was cleaning the fire-grate in her bed-room, he 
came up, saying he was going to kiss her, and on her telling 
him she could not suffer him to do anything of the kind, he 
said . . . ' I have been in the habit of doing it 
with all my servants, and why can't you and I agree.' She 
told him she could not think of agreeing to his scandalous and 
olfensive proposal, when he patted her on the shoulder, and, 
after ringing the bell, said if she did not accede to his wishea, 
he should kick her down stairs. She pushed past him and 
went below, declaring she would quit the house the same day. 
Mr. Long said ' You have summoned Captain Clayton for 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 361 

assaulting: you — lot me know what you have to say about that. 
Th(3 complainant replied, that in the afternoon, while in her 
bed-room, and in the act of paekinp: her clothes. Captain Clay- 
ton came in and said she should not ^o till the next day. He 
then patted her on the shoulder and used improper lan^uaj^e, 
and, as she did not like his talk, she manured to get away 
from him and ran down stairs, after experiencing' some diffi- 
culty in passing him, and, in the afternoon, while she was in 
her bed-room in the act of preparing to get her things together, 
he knocked at the door, which she opened, when he flew at 
her drawers, and said she should not quit till the next day. 
Slie said she had made up her mind to go instantly, when he 
rang the bell, and she rushed down stairs into the kitchen. 
The Captain told the cook that she had corrupted her, and 
he then thrashed her with a cane with such violence that the 
marks were upon her person for several days. He had re- 
peatedly made her improper solicitations, and she had on 
every occasion repulsed him. 

Mr. Long Tto defendant^ : What answer have you to this ? 

Defendant : She made some improper and insolent remark 
as a servant, and I gave her a slight tap with a cane. 

Mr, JiOng : Wliat do you say respecting the indecent over- 
tures made by you to her ? 

Defendant said the matter had happened so long ago that 
he really could not recollect anything about it. All he did 
know was, that the assault With the cane was very slight, and 
that the complainant, before he assaulted her, had made use 
of improper and impertinent words. 

Mr. Long : The assault has been proved, and, as you do 
not deny it, for that I sliall fine you 50s. and costs. 

Captain Clayton (pulling out a well filled purse) : Did you 
say £50 ? 

Mr. Fell (the chief clerk) : The penalty is not £50, but 50s. 

Captain Clayton : Oh, very well. 

The penalty and costs were then paid." — Observer, Jan. 
31s/, 1853. 

In what I have furnished, Major, you have illustrations 
of the manner in which servants are sometimes treated 
by their employers in this country, so far as concerns 
wrongs to their persons, and injuries from positive vio- 
lence. But this is the very lightest form in which inhu- 
manity to servants and laborers manifests itself More 
of sorrow and suffering, and many more deaths, are 
31 



SG2 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABrxOAD ; OR, 

caused bv tho t^Iow aiul inootisaiit ^voar and tear of tlio 
i^ystom of labor adopted among thi.^ people. That system 
exhibits its revolting features in bolder outline at those 
plaees ^Yhere women only are employed. I can readily 
furnish you \Yilli examples of the unnatural strain ^vhiell 
is thus put upon all tho laboring classes, male and female, 
in this country. It is more convenient for mo just now 
to refer to the labor of women: and I do so bv calling 
vour attention to the followiuii: extract : 



"A FIRST CLASS HAND, IN A ' FIKST RATE MILLINER's.' 
*The short but simplo nnnals of the poor.' — Gu.w. 

I have boon ongng'od in this businoss for fonrtcon yoars. at 
ditVoront 'first class heiisos.' aiub as mv health is now sutforins: 
from the Mate hour system.' I have been prevailed npoii by 
this medium to give that information which experience has 
taught mo, in tho hope that some enterprising and humane in- 
dividuals will exert themselves to break the chains of that sla- 
very under Avhich so many thousands of their countrywomen 
are bound. 

I will new speak of a recent engagement of mine, and which 
in the • one' ease will illustrate the majority of the ' AVest-end 
houses.* I held tlie position of what is called * tirst hand.' and 
had twelve young people imder me. The season commenced 
about the middle of March. We breakfasted at six. A. ISl., 
which was not allowed to occupy more than a quarter of an 
hour. The hard work of the day begun immediately. At 
eleven o'clock a small piece of dry bread was brought to each 
as luncheon. At that hour the young people would often ask 
my permission to send for a glass of beer, but this was strictly 
prohibited by the principals, as they insisted that it caused a 
drowsiness, and so retarded the work. At one o'clock the 
dinner bell rang, which repast consisted of a hot joint twice 
in the week, and cold meat the remaining tlve days, no pud- 
ding, and a glass of toast and water to drink. To this meal 
twenty minutes were given. Work again till the five o'clock 
summons for tea, which occupied fifteen minutes. Again to 
work till called to supper at nine, which also occupied tifieen 
minutes, whieh consisted of bread, dry cheese, and a glass of 
beer. All again returned to stitch, stitch, till one. two. or 
three in the morning, according to the business, while Satur- 
day night was being anticipated all the week, because then no 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 303 

one would work after twelve. VVitli this one night'H exception, 
all the rest we had for three weeks, from the end of May, to 
the middle of June, was from three till six, while two nights 
during tliat time we never lay down. I leave your readers to 
imagine the Hpectral countenanees of us all. I shudder my- 
self when I recall the picture. 

At midnight I very frequently let all put down their work 
to doze for ten minutes, while, with my watch on the table, I 
kept guard ; and, about one, each one received a cup of strong 
tea — as the principals said — * in case we should feel sleepy, to 
arouse all to work.' In what state of health could July, the 
termination of the season, be expected to find us poor ' Eng- 
lish slaves ?' The sequel is easily told. Each one, instead of 
going to enjoy a little recreation, went home to lie upon a sick 
bed. For myself, I was attacked with serious illness, which 
laid me up for three rnonth.s, and lias greatly impaired my con- 
stitution. 

Now, for this cruel inliuman treatment of womankind, who 
in dress-making houses toil harder than any laborer in the 
brick-field, there is one very simple remedy — employing a 
proper number of hands to do the work. 'J'here are always 
plenty seeking employment, but it is from the sordid love of 
gain that those already engaged may work them.selves into 
their coffins, in order that their emj>loyer's cash-boxes may be 
the more speedily filled. With your permission, 1 will here 
give a few figures. 

I have said that in mine, 'the dressmaking workroom,' there 
were twelve besides myself. There w< re also seven in the 
' millinery room,' and one in the show rooms. Out of these 
twenty-one young persons the following received salaries: 
First-iiand dressmaker, £40 ; first-hand milliner, i.'40 ; second- 
hand dressmaker, <£14; second-hand milliner, £24; sales- 
woman, £20 ; while all the rest had paid to their employers 
good premiums to learn the business. Now, every lady who 
patronizes either Bond street or its immediate neighborhood, 
will at once see that the prices they pay for their goods will 
amply compensate the person whom they employ to remunerate 
a sufficient number of people to do their work. Would that 
such ladies would at once come boldly forward and say they 
will bestow their patronage on none who permit working more 
than twelve hours a day, and even that is longer than any one 
class of men work. The 'Association' in Clitl'ord street has 
done all it could to curtail the hours of labor, but even the 



364 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

houses which it recommends deem from t A. M. to 10 P. M. 
' easy hours.' 

I liiive hitely made an application to one of these for an en- 
gagement, and npon my stating that my health would no longer 
permit my sitting 'long hours,' I was answered, 'Oh, mine are 
very easy, from 7 in the morning till 10 at night.' I knew, 
however, that my altered health will not admit of even these 
' easy hours ;' so I declined it. Perhaps many will say that the 
system I have spoken of is now rarely adopted. This I posi- 
tively contradict, as I can prove that it is the general system 
in 'West-end houses ;' while the Drawing-rooms, State Balls, 
and fashionable dejeune^^s and concerts are pending, while per- 
haps one or two large t7'ousseaux are in hand at the same 
time.'' ■— Observer, March 2Sth, 1853. 

Look at this statement, Major, and compare the condi- 
tion of these laboring women, as there set forth, with 
that of the slaves among us, — who are the hardest driven, 
— and you will find the contrast immensely in favor of 
the latter. These poor women, it seems, work from six 
in the morning until past midnight — a continuance of 
labor for more than eighteen hours, with intervals for 
meals altogether amounting to but little more than one 
hour. Twelve or thirteen hours, at most, in summer 
time, and ten or eleven hours in winter, constitute, as you 
know, the daily labor period for our slaves, with intervals 
for meals and rest, amounting to about two hours. "^ In 
addition to this, our slaves have several advantages over 
these English laborers. First, in the quantity of healthy 
food supplied, with the time to eat and digest it. Se- 
condly, in a period for natural rest and repose at night. 
Thirdlv, in a freedom from cares and anxieties, and from 
the serious illness which may be consequent thereon, and 
the physician's bills which may result from such sickness. 
Fourthly, there is the advantage of a sturdy constitution, 
developed by such treatment, instead of the feebleness 
and proneness to disease which result to these poor Eng- 
lishwomen from being overtasked and underfed. iVnd 
lastly, there is the certainty of a home, and a comfortable 
support on which to fall back, should feebleness of con- 
stitution, from disease or old age, permanently ensue. 

* Bee App., D. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 365 

A very sensible article on this subject, in the ''London 
Times," appeared shortly after the date of the above ex- 
tract, a portion of which I enclose to you, as it aids us 
somewhat in the effort to ascertain who the slave is, and 
what is the slave's condition in this country : 

"ENGLISH SEAMSTRESS SLAVERY. 

What is slavery ? ' A slave,' says Dr. Noah Webster in his 
dictionary published at New York, 'is a person wholly subject 
to the will of another ; one who has no will of his own, but 
whose person and services are wholly under the will of another.' 
The learned lexicofrrapher — and surely at New York men 
should be acquainted with the right of the subject — proceeds 
to inform us that in the early ages of the world prisoners of 
war were considered and treated as slaves ' The slaves of 
modern times,' he adds, * are generally purchased like horses 
or oxen.' Our own Dr. Johnson defines a slave as being one 
'mancipated to a master, not a freeman, a dependant, one who 
has lost the power of resistance.' Mr. Charles Richardson, on 
the other hand, considers a slave, as a person * who is reduced 
to captivity, to servitude, to bondage ; who is bound or com- 
pelled to serve, labor, or toil for another.' There is always 
some little trouble about a definition, and probably it requires 
the cobbling and filling of more than one generation to pro- 
duce anything like a perfect one. There are, however, certain 
conditions of life which any lexicographer would endeavor to 
include in his drag-net, if he were attempting to give a defini- 
tion of slavery. We are all agreed about the Uncle Toms and 
colored population of the Southern States of the American 
Union. They are slaves not only in name but in fact ; kindly 
treated, we believe, in the majority of instances, but still 
essentially slaves. AVhen we endeavor to go a little further, 
we find ourselves considerably embarrassed. A man is the 
slave of his own bad passions, of his lust after gain or power. 
But this will scarcely do ; for by enlarging the definition too 
much, the essence and reality of the thing to be defined is 
altogether lost. 

It may, perhaps, be better to begin at the other end, and 
ascend from particulars to generals. Granting that the negro 
gangs who are worked on the cotton grounds of the Southern 
States of North America, or in the sugar plantations of Brazil, 
are slaves, in what way should we speak of persons who are 
circumstanced in the manner we are about to relate ? Let us 
31* 



3GG THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

consider them as iuhiibitaiits of a distant region — say of New- 
Orleans — no matter about the color of their skins, and then 
ask ourselves what should be our o})inion of a nation in which 
such things arc tolerated. They are of a sex and age the least 
qualified to struggle with the hardships of their lot — young 
women, for the most part, between sixteen and thirty years of 
age. As we Avould not deal in exaggerations, we would pre- 
mise that we take them at their busy season, just as \vTiters 
up(Ui American slavery are careful to select the season of 
cotton-picking and sugar-crushing as illustrations of their 
theories. The young female slaves, then, of whom we speak, 
are worked in gangs, in ill-ventilated rooms, or rooms that are 
not ventilated at all ; for it is found by experience, that if air 
be admitted it brings with it * blacks' of another kind, which 
damage the work upon which the seamstresses are employed. 

Their occupationis to sew from morning to night and night 
till morning — stitch, stitch, stitch — without pause, without 
speech, without a smile, without a sigh. In the gray of the 
morning they must be at work — say at 6 o'clock — having a 
quarter of an hour allowed them for breaking their fast. The 
food served out to them is scanty and miserable enough, but 
still, in all probability, more than their fevered system can 
digest. We do not, however, wish to make out a case of 
starvation, ^c. 

From o'clock till 11 it is stitch, stitch. At 11a small 
piece of dry bread is served to each seamstress, but still she 
mnst stitch on. At 1 o'clock, twenty minutes are alloAved for 
dinner — a shce of meat and a potato, with a glass of toast- 
and-water to each workwoman. Then again to work — stitch, 
stitch — until 5 o'clock, when fifteen minutes are again allowed 
for tea. The needles are then set in motion once more — 
stitch, stitch — until 9 o'clock, when fifteen minutes are allowed 
for supper, a piece of dry bread and cheese and a glass of beer. 
From 9 o'clock at night, until 1. 2. and 3 o'clock in the morn- 
ing, SI itch, stitch ; the only break in this long period being a 
minuie or two — just time enough to swallow a cup' of strong- 
tea, which is supplied lest the young people should ' feel 
sleepy.' At 3 o'clock A. 31., to bed ; at 6 o'clock A. M., out 
of it again to resume the duties of the following day. There 
must be a good deal of monotony in the occupation. 

liut when we have said that for certain months in the year 
these unfortunate young persons are worked in the manner -we 
describe, we have lu^t said all. Even durins: the few hours 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 367 

allotted to sleep — should we not rather say to a feverish cessa- 
tion from toil — their miseries continue. They are cooped up 
in sleepinor pens, ten in a room which would perhaps be suffi- 
cient for the accommodation of two persons. The alternatioii 
is from the treadmill — and what a treadmill ! — to the Black 
Hole of Calcutta. Not a word of remonstrance is allowed, 
or is possible. The seamstresses may leave the milliner, no 
doubt, but what awaits them on the other side of the door ? 
Starvation, if they be honest, if not, in all probability, prosti- 
tution and its consequences, &c. 

Surely this is a terrible state of things, and one which 
claims the anxious consideration of the ladies of Enprland who 
have pronounced themselves so loudly against the horrors of 
negro slavery in the United States. Had this system of op- 
pression against persons of their own sex been really exercised 
in New Orleans, it would have elicited from them many ex- 
pressions of sympathy for the sufferers, and of abhorrence for 
the cruel taskmasters who could so cruelly over-work wretched 
creatures so unfitted to the toil. It is idle to use any further 
mystification in the matter. The scenes of misery we have 
described exist at our own doors, and in the most fashionable 
quarters of luxurious London." 

[The Times, 31ay '\9th, 1853. 

After what you have seen of the enterprise, Major, 
which animates these humane ladies of Stafford House, 
in all honesty and simplicity, you are possibly ready to 
conclude that they could not for a moment resist the ap- 
peal of the seamstress-slave whose communication you 
have above, nor yet the invitation of the '' Thunderer," 
who had brought the matter to their " anxious considera- 
tion ;" but that they at once, and in a body, rushed to 
the rescue, and broke " the chains of that slavery under 
which so many thousands of their countrywomen are 
bound." I shall call you verdant, if such be your infe- 
rence. Look at the above expos^ for a moment, and you 
will see that these ladies are of those who are concerned 
in rivetting these very chains — that they are, in part, 
responsible for this terrible system ; being (as they are) 
among the patrons of these " West End houses " in 
'' Bond street and its immediate neighborhood." 



o 



68 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD j OR, 



Ah, my friend, human nature is very frail ; and it is 
humiliating to behold thus exposed the weakness and im- 
perfections of our fellow-mortals. My gallantry shrinks 
from the application of such terms to ladies, and to ladies 
who are deemed among the excellent of the earth; for 
these English ladies are surely eminent in virtues, in good 
breeding, and in refined tastes. I would not be consi- 
dered coarse, or unmindful of what is due to these esti- 
mable ladies, who were, perhaps, influenced by the purest 
motives in what they have done and said with reference to 
slavery. But what then ? If I find them stepping out 
of their sphere with so much energy to intermeddle with 
a political institution which they do not understand, and 
endeavoring to throw an apple of discord among my 
countrywomen upon the plea of charity, and yet, at the 
same time, conveniently overlooking true and real objects 
of charity at home, and selfishly and directly aiding to 
encourage a system which is productive of greater physi- 
cal distress than our slaves ever know, what can I say 
but call things by their right names ? What can I do 
but denounce the ignorance and conceit of those who are 
used as instruments in promoting such a humbug ? 

That I may not be deemed tedious, I bring this subject 
and this letter to a close here, with the assurance that I 
remain, dear Major, 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 369 



LETTEK XXXVIII. 

CRUEL TREATMENT OF LUNATICS, ETC., AND OF PRISONERS, 
BY THE BRITISH PEOPLE — DEATH AT PECKHAM LUNATIC 
ASYLUM A "WITNESS AGAINST BETHLEHEM LUNATIC HOS- 
PITAL DREADFUL ABUSES IN THAT HOSPITAL, AND BRUTAL 

TREATMENT OF LUNATICS THERE — SIMILAR CONDUCT AT 

DUNSTON ASYLUM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL DISCLOSURES 

— ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF THE POOR IN A WORKHOUSE. 

London, April 22d, 1854. 

Dear Major : — I have said that the savage nature of 
Eno-lishmen manifests itself also in their treatment of 
lunatics and prisoners, and other persons in a helpless and 
unprotected condition. I have said so, because this con- 
clusion has been forced upon me by circumstances which 
have been brought to my attention during the last seve- 
ral years. A few reported facts will bring you to the 
same conclusion, I have not a doubt. Heart-rending facts 
some of these are ; but after reading what you have of 
the manner in which helpless women and children, and 
even servants, are treated in this country, your nerves 
will undergo less of a trial by reason of what I shall now 
submit to you. 

I should premise, that the treatment of lunatics and 
insane persons, by keepers, assistants, etc., in this coun- 
try, has of late attracted the attention of the press, and 
of Parliament, because of the outcry which has been 
raised on account of the enormous evil ; and something 
has been or will be done, probably, in some places, to 
ameliorate the condition of these unfortunates. But all 
this only proves that the fierce and brutal nature of the 
people, from among whom these keepers and assistants 
come, has made it necessary that there should be this 
special intervention of power for the protection of their 
victims. No such intervention is needed in our country, 

Y 



370 THE SLAVEHOLDEK ABROAD; OR, 

The following extract ^YiU givo you an idea of the sort 
of violenoo to ^vliioli those perf?ons seem to bo subjected in 
this country : 

" THE r»EATTT AT Pr.CKITAM LUNATIC ASYLUM. 

The inquest on the body oi' Closes James Barnes, late a 
pauper lunatic, at Pr. Arnisirong-'s (^or reckhani House Lu- 
natic AsylunO was on Thursday resumed and concluded. The 
inquiry was for the purpose oi^ ascertaining: the manner in 
which the wounds had been intlicted. ]Mr. Under-sherilV Law, 
who is also solicitor to the Commissioners of Lunacy, attended, 
as on the t'ormer occasion, to watch the proceeding's, as did 
also Mr. l>ennett, the assistant clerk to the board of guardians 
of Clerkenwell, to which parish the deceased legally belonged. 
According to the evidence adduced, the deceased 'seemed to 
be iroinii' otV — iretlins;' verv thin, as if he was in a decline ;' but 
his death at the time when it did occur was caused by violence. 
His arm was tound to be broken and bruised, and there were 
other injuries. The attendant stated that he did nor know 
how they oeeniTcd. lie was told that the lunatic said it was 
he (the attendant) who had done these injuries to him. The 
attendant's reply was, 'It is quite false.' It was proposed to 
examine a patient, Donnelly, who was rational in common con- 
versation, but labored under certain fancies and delusions, and 
Avas a decided lunatic. It was stated that his account agreed 
with that of other patients ; but the coroner being- told that 
Donnelly could not be considered a responsible ag-ent if he 
violated the law. would not allow his evidence to be received. 
The medical evidence attributed the death to violence most 
distinctly : and the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter 
ao-ahist some person or persons unknown." — Observer, Jan. 
23, 1S51. 

It is true that it was not rendered certain by these pro- 
ceedino-s that this unhappy man received the injuries by 
which he died from his "attendant;" but that he came 
to his death by violence at the hands of sonic one having 
charge of him, seems to be evident from the verdict. 

About this time, public attention was repeatedly called 
to the treatment of lunatics in Bethlehem Hospital, and 
otlier places, and I met with the following among other 
statements : 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 371 



"ANOTHER WITNESS AGAINST BETHLEHEM. 

'On the 20th of September last,' writes Serjeant ITenry 
Stewart, late color-serjeant 50th Infantry, ' I went as an 
attendant to Bethlehem Hospital. The patients that I 
attended were all located in the basement. I continued in 
that service only till the 8th of October, when I left in disgust 
for other employment. I was there, therefore, only eighteea 
days, but in that short space of time I witnessed acts so inhu- 
man, and cruelty so great, that I conceive it my duty to lay an 
account of what I saw before the public. 

' I believe it was on the day after I entered the hospital that 
one of the patients, James Jjrown, a jeweller, who was in the 
dining-room, had taken a piece of bread belonging to another 
patient. He was in the act of eating it, when an attendant 
seized him by the throat, and squeezed it so tightly as to 
strangle him, forcing him to disgorge the bread he was in the 
af;t of swallowing. Keeping hold of him by the throat, he 
dragged the patient into the passage, and threw him down 
violently on the ground, and there left him. 

'Another patient, named Barling, formerly an Independent 
minister at Upway, Dorsetshire, was in the dining-room with 
others v/ho were at dinner. Barling stood up and said he 
could not get his dinner comfortably there. The same attend- 
ant as last mentioned instantly seized him, threw him down, 
dragged him along the passage to the airing ground, the poor 
man resisting all the time, and at the end of tiie passage threw 
him down on the mat, opened the door, and then threw him 
outside on the pavement, going out with him. I saw Barling 
shortly afterwards, lie could not walk then, but could only 
limp, leaning on some one else. 

The next case calling for notice relates to a patient named 
Bechnell, formerly an omnibus proprietor. The patients who 
were in the west airing-ground were ordered in to dinner. 
Madison refused to go, and then Bechnell refused also. I took 
charge of Madison, and was taking him from the yard, when I 
turned round and saw another attendant in llie act of striking 
Beciinell on the side of the head. Bechnell fell with his head 
on the floor. He fell as if lifeless. I went on towards the 
dining-room, and turned round again, when I saw him sitting 
up, and the keeper standing over and apparently assisting him. 



372 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

I then proceeded into the dining-room, and immediately after- 
wards Bechnell was brought in by the keeper, who said he had 
fallen down in a fit and cut his head. Bechnell was then taken 
to the doctor and had his head dressed. The doctor did not 
ask me how it happened that Bechnell's head had been broken. 
' The above cases occurred between the 20th and 2tth Sep- 
tember, as nearly as I can recollect. 

' The concluding case I have to mention refers to Mr. Bar- 
ling, the independent minister, a victim on another occasion 
already stated. While I and another attendant were engaged 
with other patients in the basement. Barling got into the bath- 
room. While goiifg into the bath-room, my companion saw 
Barling with a little piece of soap in his hand, which he had 
purloined. Barling crouched down, and apparently expecting 
to be struck, threw his hands over his head to save himself. 
The keeper struck him with his fist on the back of the left jaw, 
the force of the blow being such as to break off one of the 
patient's front teeth, which I have now in my possession. 
Having given him this blow, he followed it up by a kick, and 
then left him. Signed, Henry Stewart, 

late Color-serjeant of 60th Regiment.' " — 
Observer, Nov. 11th, 1851. 

It was not far from this time, too, I believe, tliat a com- 
mission was appointed by Parliament for the purpose of 
investigating such charges against this hospital ; and if I 
had time and room to furnish you with the evidence which 
was taken before that Committee, you would bow your 
head in sorrow for the suffering which was thus brought 
to light, and in shame for those who so long and sys- 
tematically inflicted it. I can afford room only for a few 
of the facts which were brought out at one of the sittings 
of the Commission, and which are reported by the " Ob- 
server ;" but they will be sufficient to show you how such 
things are managed in this country. 

"dreadful abuses in BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL. 

We this week resume our extracts from the evidence laid 
before the Commissioners of Lunacy, relative to the discipline, 
management, and treatment of patients in the Bethlehem Hos- 
pital. We refer our readers particularly to the evidence of the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 373 

surgeon who attended Miss Hyson, and which fully bears out 
the comments we felt it our duty to make in the Observer of 
Sunday last. Every step that has been made in the progress 
of the investigation has only still further exposed the misman- 
agement and reckless disregard of the health and feelings of 
the unhappy victims of this fearful system, which has grown 
up and gone on so long unchecked in the very heart of the 
metropolis : 

Mr. Taylor^s explanation. — On the Itth of July, 1851, Mr. 
Charles Taylor, surgeon, of 4 Bethell place, Camberwell, was 
called before the commissioners and examined. He stated that 
he had been in the habit of attending Miss Hannah Hyson for 
some time previously to her admission into Bethlehem. He 
had been in close attendance upon her for three weeks before 
that time. She was naturally thin, but was not greatly ema- 
ciated ; she had the average amount of health and strength 
for an invalid. 

She went into Bethlehem on the 4th of April, and he saw 
her again after she had come out on the 18th. She struck him 
as being very much altered in appearance, and very emaciated ; 
she was very much thinner than when she went in, and ' her 
bones were almost projecting through her skin.' Her mind 
was much less wandering ; but her countenance was very anx- 
ious and dejected, and she looked nnseral)le altogether. She 
had no paralysis, but squinted a little, which was not the case 
before she went in. She was laboring under diarrhoea. He 
did not examine her person, and could not say whether there 
were any wounds. He saw her face, but forgets whether he 
noticed the marks that evening or not. Beheves it was that 
evening or the next morning her mother said, ' Oh 1 Mr. Taylor, 
my girl has been terribly ill-treated, and I wish you to look at 
her,' and he then particularly examined her body all over, and 
had a written account of it somewhere. There was, to the best 
of his memory, ' a place ' or mark on the upper lip, and one on 
her cheek also. The witness then, in answer to a variety of 
questions, detailed the various marks and wounds upon the 
patient's body, on the ankles, knees, hips, elbows, &c. She 
died on the morning of the 22d, four days after leaving the 
hospital, and ' we ' examined the body. By ' we ' he meant Dr. 
Wood, the resident apothecary of tlie hospital, his partner Mr. 
Crisp, and himself. The immediate cause of her sinking was 
diarrhoea and want of food. She did not refuse her food after 
32 



374 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, 

she came out. Witness said to her, 'Hannah, now you must 
take what I tell you ;' she said she would, and she did. 



"CASE OF MISS MARY ISABELLA WHITTINGHAM. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Whittingham, of Albert terrace, Ball's Pond, 
Islington, deposed that she had a daughter named Mary Isa- 
bella, a patient in Bethlehem Hospital. Her health at the 
time was delicate — she had had inflammation of the throat and 
cough, and had fallen away in flesh. She had no marks or 
bruises on her body when she went in. She was violent and 
high, but not to do any mischief. She went into the hospital 
on the 9th of January, and it was two months before she could 
see her. On the first occasion it was before the proper time, 
and they would not allow her to see her daughter. Some of 
her friends also went, but were refused. Afterwards, at the 
proper time, when she went, the nurse said she could not see 
her. Witness said, 'Cannot see herl I must see her; I am 
her mother.' The nurse said, 'I cannot help that — you can- 
not see her.' About a fortnight after that she went again and 
saw her. She appeared to be in great distress, and cried bit- 
terly. Witness entreated her not to do so, and she said, ' I 
cannot help it; I cry all night.' She said, 'Look at my 
fingers' (one of them was very much swollen) ; and when wit- 
ness inquired the cause, she said it was one of the nurses, and 
she also showed her bruises all down the side ; but witness had 
not the opportunity of seeing any more. When asked why 
she did not complain to Dr. Wood, the poor creature said it 
is of no use complaining to Dr. Wood. While they were talk- 
ing, Dr. Wood happened to come up, and the mother showed 
the bruised hand and the marks on her side, and he showed 
the swelled hand to one of the nurses, and asked, ' How is 
this ?' The nurse said, ' Oh, that is an old affair.' The joint 
of the finger was very much swollen. The name of the nurse 
was Elizabeth. Her daughter told her that it was not that 
nurse who had given her the bruises, but that Elizabeth used 
to beat her with the keys. The bruises were not caused by 
her tumbling about, but she at one time had the misfortune to 
fall and hurt her hip, and the least push or blow given her by 
the nurses would throw her down. Her daughter slept for 
three months in the basement story — she said she never slept 
on anything but the bare straw, and no night clothes what- 
ever. Witness had no opportunity of examining her bed and 
bedding, as she was not admitted into the place where her 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 875 

daughter slept. The patient was dressed for the occasion, 
and brought up to the gallery — her hair was very bad, and 
nearly all cut away, and they took her brushes and combs from 
her. No reason was given for placing her in the basement 
story. Her daughter was subject to delusions. In about a 
month the mother saw her again, and she then appeared much 
the same, and wanted very much to come home. Her mind 
then appeared to be better. Dr. Wood said he thought she 
was going on pretty well. Every time the poor girl saw her 
mother she complained of ill-treatment, and the mother and 
friends unfortunately thought it was one of her delusions. On 
the second visit she complained that, being awake all night, 
she overslept herself, and the nurse came and dragged her by 
the hair of her head to make her get up, and shook her so vio- 
lently that it brought on a violent fit of coughing. On an- 
other occasion her face appeared very much swollen with con- 
stantly crying. The patient w^as discharged cured on the 1th 
of June. Before she left, she said she would certainly make a 
complaint when she went before the committee, but 31 r. Hun- 
ter begged she would not, as Elizabeth, the nurse, had a 
mother to keep, and the poor girl, being a feeling young per- 
son, agreed not to make the complaint. The matron stood 
beside the patient when she went before the committee, so that 
she could not say anything. She had since gone to her rela- 
tives in Somersetshire, in the hope that change of air might 
further benefit her. Among other things wliich she told her 
mother after she left the hospital was that on one occasion she 
was going to take a bath — whether she did not do it properly 
or not could not be ascertained, but no less than three of the 
nurses forced her in again, and ill treated her very much, and 
she begged never to be put in a bath again. She also com- 
plained of their calling her most shocking names, and of very 
bad language being used towards her. 



"MEDICAL EVIDENCE WITH REGARD TO MISS MORLEY. 

Mr. John Ogle Else, surgeon, of Albany road, Caniberwell, 
was called in to see Miss Anne Morley, the patient whose case 
was referred to last week with the initials of A.M., under the 
head of ' Peine forte et dure.' He was called in on the 28th 
of December, 1850, at her father's residence. Jessamine Cot- 
tage, Park street, Camberwell. He had previously, on the 6th 
of October, signed a certificate for her admission into Betlile- 



376 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABKOAD ; OR, 

hem. She was then in a very impaired state of bodily health, 
and appeared to be suflfeinng from a description of low fever. 
He did not apprehend but that she might be restored both 
mentally and bodily, but on the second occasion, after she came 
out, he did not think that she would live twenty-four hours. 
She complained of having sores on her side, but be did not 
examine her. Her health was so precarious that he endeavored 
to dissuade her family from sending her to Northamptonshire, 
believing that she would not survive the journey. 

P. R. Nesbit, M. D., deposed to having received Miss Mor- 
ley into his asylum at Northampton, on the 29th of December. 
She was then in an extremely feeble condition. She was bed- 
ridden, and had various sores all over her body 
Dr. Nesbitt, in his letter to the commissioners, said the 
sores and abrasions were evidently the consequences of 
neglect — that the patient uniformly complained of the treat- 
ment to which she was subjected in Bethlehem Hospital — 
that she had nothing but straw to lie on, and there was no 
attempt to interpose any kind of protection between her 
body and the straw — that it hurt her much, and she had no 
clothes even to cover her. She described her whole treatment 
to be harsh and coarse, and the recollection of it to inspire her 
with horror — that the nurses were in the habit of giving her 
nicknames derived either from the color of her skin or from her 
habits, and that they treated her like a brute. He adds that 
the patient is remarkable for truthfulness. The whole of the 
evidence brought forward in corroboration of the statements 
made by the patients themselves is remarkably coherent and 
consistent, and establishes a most revolting system of inhu- 
manity and cruelty. The matter is little mended when we take 
the evidence on the other side brought forward in defence of 
the institution. 

The editor from whose paper the above extracts are 
taken, comments as follows : 

"Ci^SE OF THE POOR LUNATICS IN BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL. 

The publication of the evidence taken before the Commis- 
sioners of inquiry in the case of Bethlehem Hospital continues 
to attract the most profound and painful attention on the part 
of the public. A complete abstract of this evidence will be 
found in another part of the Observer. In the meanwhile, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 377 

however, the attention of the reader may with propriet}" be 
pointed to the important facts in that publication. 

Miss Ann Morley — the patient whose case was alluded to 
last week in this journal as A. M. — had, it would seem, a nar- 
row escape with her life from the ' tender mercies' dispensed in 
the 'incurable' ward of this establishment. She went in ill, no 
doubt ; but not so ill as to cause her previous medical attendant 
to despair of her restoration to health, bodily and mental ; 
when she left, however, the same medical man, according to his 
own solemn statement, did not expect she would live twenty- 
four hours, such was her reduced condition. 

It will scarcely add to the public horror at the system so 
long and so cruelly pursued in Bethlehem Hospital, to state 
that the wretched patients — female patients more especially — 
were beaten — beaten, too, with the keys of their ward, by the 
nurse- tenders. 

Miss Isabella Whittingham, another patient, who has also 
luckily escaped with her life, had one side covered with bruises, 
and was moreover nearly scalped by the nurse-tenders dragging 
her out by the hair of her head. Of course, when such bru- 
tality was practised, decency of deportment would not be ob- 
served, and therefore it will not surprise the public that filthy 
names and bad language were constantly in the mouth of the 
subordinate authorities, to whose ' tender mercies' the poor 
patients in the 'incurable,' or more properly speaking, 'con- 
demned' ward,*were consigned." — Observer, Oct. llth, 1852. 

But the exposures made by this proceeding, and the 
report of the Committee, could not change the nature of 
Englishmen. I continued, therefore, to meet with similar 
complaints. Take, for example, the following extract, 
which formed part of an article in which the editor, after 
detailing a case of cruelty of another description, goes on 
to say, 

" The other case we find reported in the Durham Advertiser. 
It occurred at Quarter Sessions, and, as tending to show that 
at other lunatic asylums besides the Bethlehem, the practice of 
gross cruelty towards insane persons still exists, should not be 
lost sight of by those who do not think that diseases of the 
mind are to be cured by sufferings inflicted on the body. The 
Commissioners, we notice with pleasure, are on the alert, and 
it was in consequence of a communication from them that the 
32* 



378 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

matter became the subject of inquiry. As the accusation runs, 
the proprietor of the Dunstou Asylum has horsewhipped one 
of his patients, and (on the ground that he used them to bite 
him with) has caused the extraction of some of his teeth. The 
horsewhipping does not appear to be denied, the tooth-drawing 
responsibility seems possibly to lie wath the dentist, and not 
with the accused. Here, therefore, the matter lies ; a report 
is sent to the Commissioners ; the license of Mr. Wilkinson, 
against whom this misconduct is charged, is suspended ; and 
the public waits for the result. We trust that it will be satis- 
factory, and that if the vindication of the accused be not suffi- 
cient, his punishment will be certain." — The Leader, April 
Uth, 1853. 

Again I found Sir B. Hall calling the attention of Par- 
liament to tlie treatment of female Innatics at Betlileliem, 
and to an alleged fact, which, if true, is excessively dis- 
graceful and painful. 

''BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL. 

Sir B. Hall said it w^as stated that female lumitics in this 
hospital were disgracefully treated ; that young girls were made 
to stand quite naked w^hilst they were washed with a mop, and 
then sent shivering to their cells, in the month of March. This 
institution possessed £20,000 a-year, and w^as chiefly under the 
management of the Corporation of London. The corporation 
had met yesterday, and after despatching the Jew^ question, 
had proceeded to Bethlehem [laughter]. Mr. Gilpin moved 
to make stringent inquiries into the treatment of the patients, 
but the motion was withdrawn. He wished to know what had 
been done to prevent the recurrence of such abuses as those 
described by the Lunacy Commissioners ? 

Mr. Fitzroy was not aware that the report alluded to would 
be laid upon the table ; but a bill now^ in the Lords, intro- 
duced by Lord St. Leonard's, and which he believed would be 
passed, would place Bethlehem Hospital on the same footing as 
other similar establishments [hear]." — Observer, March, 1853. 

I must pass on to other matter, and bring to your at- 
tention the inhumanity with which the poor in workhouses, 
and prisoners in the jails, are treated in this country. I 
select first from among others the following extract : 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 379 



"ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF THE POOR IN LEWISHAM 

WORKHOUSE. 

On Thursday eveniug, a public meeting of the inhabitants 
of Lewisham and the neighborhood was held at the Bull Inn, 
to take into consideration allegations which have been freely 
circulated, of great inhumanity to the poor on the part of the 
officials of Lewisham workhouse. Mr. Brown, a former guar- 
dian of the poor in the Lewisham Union, having been called to 
the chair, expressed the deep regret he felt that it should be 
necessary to call such a meeting, but the circumstances which 
had transpired rendered it impossible for the rate-payers to be 
silent any longer. When he held the office of a guardian, he 
found great reason to complain of the master's accounts, in 
which he detected great discrepancies. He sought hard to 
obtain an official inquiry into the matter, but the master being 
allowed to amend his accounts, all further discussion was 
stifled. 

Mr. Day said his attention was directed in August last to 
the case of a man named Cooke, then an inmate of the Lewis- 
ham Union. The details of the case were of so harrowing a 
character that he sought to have a conversation with him, but 
an application he made to the master for that purpose was 
peremptorily refused. He then applied to the chairman of the 
Board of Guardians, but received no answer. He had under- 
stood that Cooke had been confined to the house for nine con- 
secutive months, without being allowed to cross the threshold 
of the door. 

Cooke, the pauper alluded to, was introduced. He appeared 
to be in an infirm state of health, was suffering from the loss 
of one of his eyes, and was about 26 or 27 years of age. He 
said he had held a subordinate situation in connexion with the 
Shooter's-hill district Post office, but his health havin": failed 
him, he was compelled to seek admission into the Lewisham 
Workhouse. He had received much ill-treatment from the 
master, without having been able to obtain any protection from 
the Board of Guardians. During the time he was an inmate 
of the house, which extended over a considerable time, from 
illness, he had witnessed cruelties of the most revoltinsrcharac- 
ter. On one occasion, a pauper named Ferris, a man between 
80 and 85 years of age, had a trifling dispute with the master, 
the old man having asked for a short leave of absence from the 
house. The master struck him a violent blow with his fist, and 



oSO THE SLAVKliOLDlIK AiUlOAP : OK. 

tlion Willi anoilior blow striiok biin down iu (ho Vfird. Forris 
was luuiblo lo assiv^t hiiiu^oir. ami ovoiuually a nuui was sent to 
ivmove him from tho yard. As iho v^Ki man was boiiig- vo- 
movod. tho mastor said. * Yon aro a d— d old rasoal, and I 
wish 1 had served you worse.' Ferris was take>\ to tlie intir- 
nmry, and a man was appointed to waieh him niclu and day, 
beeause he was unable, without help, to get in and out o\' bed. 
On another oeeasion the nmster knoeked a poor old woman, 
TO years of aire, dvnvn half a tlig-lu of stairs. A poor boy 
named Pay was admiited into the house, having- reeeived se- 
vere injuries on his legs from the kiek of a horse. The boy's 
thighs having been injured, the hospital surgeons had made 
two great ineisions, and the eonsequenee was he was unable lo 
move about without a eruteh. The master ordered him to go 
to work, and the boy. having expressed his inability to do so, 
the master knoeked the eruteh from under his arm. and then 
&traek him over the head with it, immediately afterwards 
striking him iu the faee with his list The following morning 
the master ealled him v<~^n>ke) into the otViee. and requested 
him to have nothing to do with the boy, but Oooke replied 
that the assault was of such a brutal eharaeter that he should 
state it to the guardians. For this he was taken before the 
guardians, and turned out of the house, although iu a state of 
serious illness. Leaving the house he fell senseless on tlie 
road, and was eonveyed by a poliee-olVieev to the residenee of 
a neighboring surgeon, and thenee baek to the Vuion-house. 
The master refused to admit him. and he was drawn about in 
a eart for three or four hours, unable to obtain any assistanee. 
He was again taken to the workhouse, at the door of whieh he 
was met bv the master, who told the driver to baek him into 
the diteh and leave him there, and he would take the eouse- 
queuees. He was in the workhouse ten weeks at that time. 
jS'o one was allowed to speak to him. Water was given to 
him onee only for the purpose of washing himself, and the ban- 
dages he plaeed round his legs, whieh were sore, he had to 
wash in his own urine. i^Great sensation. "> He was not allowed 
to go to any plaee of worship, although he appealed to the 
-Board of tiuai\iiaus for permission. Oooke was elosely ques- 
tioned as to the accuraey of his statements, but his testimony 
was unshaken. 

Many eases of a eharaeter similar to those already detailed 
were given by paupers in person, and by gentlemen who had 
beeome aequaijited with them. It was unanimously agreed 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 381 

that the circumstances which had been laid before the meeting 
should be represented to the Poor-law Board, and a sub-com- 
mittee for that purpose was appointed. It was also agreed 
that, if necessary, a petition should be presented to Parliament. 
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings, 
which did not terminate until a very late hour at night." — 
WeeJcbj Dispatch, Feb. Uh, 1853. 

During the past year considerable excitement was cre- 
ated by reports of shocking cruelty practised on prisoners 
in the jail at Birmingham. You will find the subject 
alluded to in the following extract : 

"CHARGES OF CRUELTY AGAINST THE GOVERNOR OF BIR- 
iMINGHAM JAIL. 

In consequence of rumors that cruelties had been practised 
in the borough jail of Birmingham, Lord Palmerston ordered 
an inquiry by Mr. Perry, the prison inspector. About three 
months ago one Andrews, a youth, hung himself in his cell, 
making a third case of suicide, besides several attempts at 
suicide, made since Lieutenant Austen, Pv,. N. (the present 
governor), succeeded Captain Maconochie two years ago." — 
Observer, July Uh, 1853. 

In pursuance of the order thus given by the Home 
Secretary, a report was made in May last, by the inspec- 
tor, Mr. Perry, which disclosed a system of shocking 
cruelty and oppression practised in this jail. To this, the 
visiting justices replied, denying most, or all, of the 
charges ; and these proceedings, it seems, lead to the ap- 
pointment of a commission for the purpose of investiga- 
ting the subject. That inquiry developed facts which 
serve to authorize all that I have said in relation to this 
matter. I cannot afford room for the report made by this 
commission, but will give you the substance of it con- 
densed into an editorial article of the Observer. 

"THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL DISCLOSURES. 

The inquiry into the illegal and cruel proceedings that have 
taken place from time to time within the last three years, in 



382 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

Birmingham jail, has now terminated ; and a few remarks upon 
the subject may not, therefore, be inappropriate. The evidence 
adduced before the commissioners showed in the clearest 
manner a continuous system of wanton and unlawful restric- 
tions — of barbarous punisments. It showed penal labor out- 
rageously disproportioned to the bodily powers of those on 
whom it was imposed — and it showed prison allowances 
reduced, for the most trivial offences, below the minimum re- 
quired for the maintenance of health and strength — which, 
with at least the acquiescence of the visiting justices, has been 
allowed to aggravate the sentences judicially pronounced on 
convicted offenders. 

The governor of the prison, who was practically placed upon 
his defence in the course of the inquiry, confined his answers 
in substance to the bare allegation that he was no worse than 
others — that he had only followed in the wake of his immediate 
predecessor. But he made several admissions of a nature cal- 
culated to vitiate his defence — among others that he had, twelve 
months after his predecessor's departure, inserted in the book 
which, according to the regulations, ought to form a daily 
journal of all punishments inflicted in the prison, entries of 
punishments alleged to have been inflicted by that officer, 
which, as far as he knew, might or might not be facts. This 
tampering with the records of the prison, however, bad as it 
was, is not the worst feature of the case against him, as based 
upon his own admission. For instance, he was in the habit of 
sentencing prisoners to bread and water for prison offences, 
without first hearing what they had to say in their own defence 
— a notorious violation both of English law and of natural 
equity. It was his practice to prevent prisoners committed for 
trial from corresponding with their friends — which is also 
wholly illegal. Prisoners convicted for the second time he 
habitually detained until the evening of the day on which their 
sentences expired, instead of discharging them, as the law 
requires, at the earliest possible hour in the morning. He 
punished the prisoners for speaking to one another in the yard, 
which he had no right whatever to do. And lastly, he syste- 
matically abstained from recording the punishments which he 
inflicted. The latter practice no doubt was demanded by the 
nature of the punishment inflicted by him on the prisoner ; for, 
contrary to law, as well as to morals, he ' weighted' the crank 
on which they worked to the extent of no less than ten thou- 
sand I revolutions in a single day ; and not alone this, but he 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 383 

compelled his victims to carry on their work lonp; after dark, 
leaving tlicm to guess when tliey had accoinplislied their task ; 
tliouji'h, while thus employed, they were each, in the opinion 
ol' an engineer who was examined, doing more than twice tiie 
work which ought to have been exacted from an able-bodied 
man, while they received no food (a one poutid loaf of bread 
and water; until ten o'clock at night, ' having then been without 
sustenance the whole day.' Very often, too, after long depri- 
vation of food, they were compeHed to suffer tlie ])unishmeat 
of the strait-jacket, with the attendant collar and straps. 

The result of this system of torture, for such it was and 
nothing else, was a chronic tendency to suicide on the part of 
the prisoners ; a state of mind perfectly comi)rehensiljle in the 
presence of death by lingering torture — torture inflicted, too, 
not in the open light of day, by responsible administrators of 
the law, but in the darkness and secrecy of the crank cell. 

But though tlie governor was decidedly the gravest offender 
in this terrible case of cruelty and oppression towards the 
prisoners, he was not alone to blame ; for magistrates and 
officers of every grade connected with the prison were equally 
cruel, or when not actually so, were most culpably indifferent 
to tlie sufferings intlicled on those whom it was their duty to 
protect as well as to keep in safe custody." — Ohaerver, Hep- 
tember 19//i, 1853. 

Believe me, dear Major, 

Yr. obdt. servt. and cousin. 
To Major J. Jones, P. Jones. 

Pinovilie, Georgia, U. S. of America. 



384 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 



LETTER XXXIX. 

WHAT IS THE SOCIAL HAPPINESS OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE ? — 
THE PAUPERS AND THE BEGGARS HELP TO FURNISH AN 
ANSWER. 

London, April 28th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — Up to tliis point of our correspondence, 
I have been furnisliing you witli facts, for the immediate 
purpose of enabling you to understand something of the 
morals of the British people, as a nation. With what has 
been thus submitted, there has been necessarily associated 
much that may help you to form a very fair judgment at the 
same time, as to the happiness of the same people. But 
as I am anxious that in both these respects, you shall be 
able to make something of a just comparison, between 
them, — ^possessed as they are, of free institutions, and the 
highest degree of civilization which has been developed 
under the influence of such institutions, — and between the 
people of our slave-holding states, I propose now to bring 
to your attention some other facts, with which I have 
been made acquainted, the effect of which will be to aid 
you in forming an opinion as to the comparative advan- 
tages of the two people, with regard to those elements 
which constitute the greatest amount of happiness for a 
nation. Associated with these facts, there will, of course, 
again be, more or less of those circumstances which reflect 
light upon the moral character and conduct of the same 
people. 

You must excuse me. Major, if I try your patience 
somewhat further, by a few preliminary remarks. I should 
like for us to agree, as to what constitutes the true evi- 
dence of happiness among a people. It seems to me, 
that a correct general proposition of this sort, should be 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 385 

phrased someliow iij this way! That people may be spid 
to be the happiest, who, taken as a whole, possess the 
largest share of average health, of material comforts, and 
of moral and mental enjoyment. You will have no dif- 
ficulty in agreeing to this, I suppose. 

Now, correctly to compare one people with another, in 
the respect of social blessings, we must first ascertain, or 
approximate to a knowledge of the extent to which these 
several elements of social happiness are enjoyed by that 
people. That is what I propose to do for your benefit, in 
what I am writing, or have written to you ; with one ex- 
ception, and that is as to the health of this people. I 
have no correct data, and I know not how such can be 
procured, by which we might arrive at entirely accurate 
information on this subject.* 

Certainly, so far as the higher classes in this country 
are concerned, there are some statistics which seem to 
indicate that they have the advantage over us (that is 
to say, over our white population) in this respect. But 
it would not be fair to take such examples from the 
higher classes only. If we look to these classes alone, 
the comparison would be favorable as to the other ele- 
ments of happiness stated ; indeed it would be strikingly 
to their advantasre, as resiards some of them. It can- 
not be denied, for example, as I have had occasion already 
to remark, that there is no class of persons upon earth, 
(in my opinion,) possessing material comforts to an ex- 
tent that can compare with the nobility and gentry of 
this country, or with the wealthy middle classes of society ; 
as there are none to vie with them in splendid hospitality, 
and in the graces and amenities of private life. 

It should be added, that health and duration of life de- 
pend as well upon the influence of climate, as upon the 
character and habits of a people, and therefore they should 
be properly omitted from the elements of a comparison, 
such as I am inviting you to make.f 

Concede then to the upper ranks of society here, the 
possession and enjoyment of material comforts (and in this 
term — without pausing to consider the critical accuracy 

* See App., F. f See App., C. § 25. 

33 z 



386 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

of the definition — I include those things which serve to 
gratify the tastes, as well as those which minister to the 
appetites and necessities of man) in so high and remark- 
able a degree ; still you will find upon a general survey 
of all classes, that there is in other directions, an absence 
of these material elements of man's enjoyment, to an ex- 
tent which is shocking to the sympathies of one from our 
country, and to an extent which should make him very 
grateful that " his hues are fallen in pleasant places," and 
in another land. You will find too, that snch a survey 
of all ranks and all classes in this country authorizes the 
conclusion, that so far as the elements of mental and moral 
enjoyment are concerned, as compared with oiu" people, 
even with our slaves, the inhabitants of these British 
islands are a miserable people. 

Let us see, then, what is to be ascertained as to a gene- 
ral difi'usion of those elements which minister to the com- 
fort and necessities of human life in this country. I call 
your attention first to some general statements under this 
head. 

I find by the " Statistical Companion" (English anthority 
which I have already quoted), that the population of 
England and Wales in 1851, was 17,922,768 ; that the 
number of paupers receiving relief on the 1st day of Janu- 
ary, 1849, was 940,851 ; on the 1st day of January, 1852, 
was 792,026 ; that the number of adult able bodied pau- 
pers in 1849, was 201,644 ; in 1852, was 130,163. I find, 
also, by the same authority, that the amount expended 
for relief of the poor in England and Wales, during the 
year ending at Lady-day, 1850, was £5,395,022, or up- 
wards of twenty-six millions of dollars ; and during the 
year ending at Lady-day, 1851, the expenditure was 
£4,952,704, or upwards of twenty-two millions of dollars. 
To relieve this plethora of pauperism somewhat, it has 
been the habit here, sometimes to ship certain of the chil- 
dren in the workhouses, to the colonies. This practice 
was found to be so cruelly abused, that Parliament deemed 
it expedient to interfere and endeavor to regulate it, con- 
sistently with humanity. It would seem, however, from 
exposures, which were made in the newspapers, some year 
or two since (and I refer more especially to the Observer 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 387 

of February 3d, 1851), that notwithstanding these pre- 
cautions, the practice is still occasionally continued, even 
in violation of the statute law. These transactions, it is 
true, were carried to the account of good motives ; but 
what would these crusaders in the African waters think 
of such a plea in the mouth of the captured slave-trader ? 
According to the Observer of March 21st, 1853, the 
number of children still remainins; 

'' In the workhouses of the several unions and parishes 
in England and* Wales, on the 25th of March, 1851, and 
1852, were: — 25th of March, 1851, 27,032 boys, and 
22,420 girls, making 49,452. On the 25th of March last, 
46,600 boys and girls, of whom 5297 were capable of 
entering upon service."* 

Notwithstanding the immense outlay for the relief of 
the poor in this country, the extent of suffering and des- 
titution is perfectly wonderful. Some years since we 
were told, that, '^ In London, one-tenth of the pojDulation 
are paupers, and 20,000 rise every morning, without 
knowing where they are to sleep at night. The paupers, 
criminals, and vagrants alone in it, and its vicinity, are 
180,000." (Alisons Principles of population.) 

You will find from other and more recent data, that 
these figures, and especially the number of those, who, in 
the morning, know not where they are to sleep at night, 
must be considerably enlarged. 

We are told again, that 

"In Liverpool there are T800 inhabited cellars, occupied by 
39,000 persons. The great proportion of these cellars are 
dark, damp, confined, ill-ventilated, and dirty." — Mr. Slaney^s 
Report to the House of Commons. 

" Dr. Robertson, an eminent surgeon of Manchester, who 
has had a great deal of experience among the laboring classes, 
sums up thus the accumulated evils incident to their condition : 

'Too early employment — too long employment — too much 
fatigue — no time for relaxation — no time for mental improve- 
ment — no time for the care of health — exhaustion — intem- 
perance — indifferent food — sickness — premature decay — a large 
mortality.' 

* See Appendix G., as to pauperism in Georgia. 



388 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

The same gentleman, in speaking of the laboring poor of 
the agricultural districts, says that, in his opinion, their state 
is not more favorable to the preservation of perfect life of body 
than that of the manufacturing poor. He remarks : 

'What I say concerning these poor people, is the result of 
much observation of them, and I consider it a duty to lift the 
veil from a subject surrounded by many respectable prejudices. 

Their extreme poverty, and their constant labor 

so influence them, that the majority — I am sure I speak within 
bounds — have never the enjoyment of health after forty years 
of age. This is the result of bad food — insufficient clothing 
— wearing toil — and the absence of all hope of anything better 
in this world.' 

The peasant's house is not the abode of joy or even comfort. 
No ' children run to lisp their sire's return,' or ' climb his knees, 
the envied kiss to share.' The children are felt to be aburi:hen, 
ill-fed, ill-clothed, and lying on beds worse than the lower 
animals ; they are ragged, or clothed by charity ; untaught, or 
taught by charity ; if sick, cured by charity ; if not starved, 
fed by proud charity," &c. 

The London Times of December 1st, 1852, referring to 
destitution in the metropolis, says, that 

" One most mournful and terrific contrast ever meets the 
eyes — the extreme of destitution and despair face to face with 
the extreme of luxury and physical enjoyment, and, unless 
timely remedies be applied, this disorder and wrong will result 
very calamitously to the entire social system." 

The same paper in the month of March following, 
furnishes the following information : 

"Does it not appear at first sight a strange result of the 
statistics of society, that upon an average one person out of 
twenty of the inhabitants of this luxurious metropolis is every 
day destitute of food and employment, and every night with- 
out a place for shelter or repose. 

It may be that we are blessed with greater means than our 
neighbors ; but, if we judge by results, the conclusion is inevi- 
table, that there is no charity like English charity — there is 
no country in the world where such strenuous efforts have been 





1 %l 


j _ 






BILLY buck's visit TO EXGLAND. 389 

made to relieve the destitution and minister to the wants of 
the sufferino; classes. Notwithstanding all these efforts, it is 
a lamentable fact that in this town of London alone, the centre 
and core of British civilization, 100,000 persons are everyday 
without food, save it be the precarious produce of a passing job 
or a crime. Since England was England the general prosperity 
of the country has never reached so high a point as at the 
present moment. We mark with complacency the gradual 
rise of this swelling tide of wealth and luxury ; we take no 
notice of the receding wave. Many schemes have been de- 
vised by politic or humane persons to remedy this acknowledged 
evil. The statesman erects his poor-law unions, and the 
philanthropist his house of refuge ; but still the destitution 
continues. It is stated in the Registrar-General's annual re- 
port for 1849, 'that nearly one human being died weekly in 
this wealthy metropolis from actual starvation.' In the cor- 
responding report for 1851, we find that twenty-eight adults 
died from starvation, and 252 infants from want of breast- 
milk or want of food. In the month of December, 1851, five 
adults died from starvation, and twenty-nine infants from in- 
anition. But the respectable rate-payer will say, ' Such 
things need not be. No man, woman, or child in England — 
certainly no person within the limits of the metropolis — need 
perish for want of food. A starving person has but to apply 
as a casual pauper at the door of any work-house, or enter a 
police court or station-house, and, the dire necessities of 
nature would be on the instant supplied. In so vast a popu- 
lation, instances must of course occur of persons who will care- 
fully hide their shame and their wants from every eye until 
they sink down exhausted in some lone spot to die. There 
are upwards of 80,000 persons who profess to look after the 
interests of the poor in London alone. To guard against any 
possibility of these exceptional cases one-half of the popula- 
tion should be converted into ex officio guardians of the other 
half" 

Commenting on the article, a part of whicli is given 
above, another London journal holds the following lan- 
guage : 

** The efforts of the committee of management of the Lei- 
cester-square Soup Kitchen have been so important to the 
poor of this metropolis as to elicit the extraordinary expres- 
sion of satisfaction (which will be found subjoined) from the 
33* 



390 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

leading morning journal of this country. This in itself is a 
test of the value of the services of this society ; but a better 
test is furnished in the returns of the amount of relief furnished 
to the necessitous ; a better still by the statements of the house- 
less and hungry victims of an unsound social system whom 
they have relieved." — Observer, March 2Wi, 1852. 

You perceive that by tlie contemplation of so mucb 
distress and destitution, an admission is, as it were wrung 
from this English journal, that these sufferers are '^ the 
victims of an unsound social system." But you will be 
satisfied of this by other and abundant facts. 

These must be reserved for subsequent letters. For 
the present, I must close, with the assurance, that I am, 
as ever, 

Eespectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 391 



LETTER XL. 

THE INQUIRY INTO THE HAPPINESS OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE, AS 

A NATION, CONTINUED STEALING CAUSED BY DISTRESS 

INCREASE OP VAGRANCY IN THE METROPOLIS STREET BEG- 
GING THE LEICESTER SQUARE SOUP-KITCHEN AND HOSPICE 

THE VERY POOR OF THE METROPOLIS — DEATHS FROM 

STARVATION THE HUNGRY CHILDREN IN THE RAGGED 

SCHOOLS PAUPERISM AND VAGRANCY — MORE OF THE LEI- 
CESTER SQUARE SOUP-KITCHEN CHILDREN DYING FOR WANT 

OF BREAST-MILK ANOTHER DEATH FROM STARVATION — THE 

COMMON LODGING HOUSES IN ST. GILES — ATTEMPT OF TWO 
MAIDEN LADIES TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY STARVATION, ON AC- 
COUNT OF THEIR DESTITUTION. 

London, May 1st, 1854. 

Lear Major : — I am now about to send you some 
statements and instances in illustration of the suffering 
and destitution which prevails in this kingdom. 

The following is a case of stealing caused by distress. 
It will try your sensibilities : 

" STEALING CAUSED BY DISTRESS. 

At the Mansion House, on Thursday, Sarah Boring, a per- 
son whose face indicated bodily and mental suffering, was 
charged before the Lord Mayor with stealing a shilling. It 
appeared that the prisoner was seen by a policeman to go 
to one of the shops in Cannon-street, and present a petition 
for relief. The tradespeople in that neighborhood being over- 
whelmed with applications from pretended as well as real 
objects, she was refused. She, however, went back to the 
shop, after a little hesitation, and took up a shilling lying on 
the counter, which, being missed before she left the shop, she 
was taxed with theft, which she owned, and said it was through 
distress. The shopkeeper, being a humane man, did not ap- 
pear. The prisoner, with tears gushing from her eyes, said 
she was starving, and so was her husband and children, and 



392 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

the policeman said he had been to her lodging in Bermondsey, 
and found it a place of wretched poverty ; there was an old 
bedstead and a little straw on it, but no clothes whatever, and 
on the straw the husband lay with disease of the hip, and two 
children at the foot, and not a morsel of food in the room. 
The Lord Mayor directed that immediate relief should be 
given her and her family, and told her to ' go and sin no more.' " 
— Observer, Febrmary 24:th, 1851 

I do not wonder tliat the Lord Mayor was softened by 
the toucliing eloquence of such a scene of suffering and 
^' wretched poverty," that he was overcome by the picture 
of that room with its " old bedstead, and a little straw on 
it, but no clothes whatever;" and on the straw the dis- 
eased husband, with his 'Hwo children at the foot, and not 
a morsel of food in the room;" whilst the feeble tottering 
mother makes a desperate effort to relieve the sufferers, 
by ravishing from society what she could not otherwise 
procure. Ah ! my friend, we who in our comfortable 
homes know not what such sufferings are, should be very 
grateful to the Giver of all good gifts, that in those homes 
even our "hired servants have bread enough and to 
spare ;" and even they are lead not into such temptations, 
as this poor woman encountered. 

From the same paper, I clipped the following : 

"INCREASE OF VAGRANCY IN THE METROPOLIS. 

At an inquest held on Wednesday by Mr. Wakley, M. P., on 
the body of a prisoner in the House of Correction, a state- 
ment was made by Mr. Wakefield, the house surgeon, which 
at a subsequent period may demand the careful consideration 
of the Government. Of late, he says, vagrancy has frightfully 
increased in the metropolis, and the magistrates frequently 
send persons in a dying condition to the prison, where, with 
the aid of better diet, they soon recover. Two were lately 
admitted, mere skeletons, one of whom had increased fifteen 
pounds, and the other twenty pounds, on the day of discharge. 
So much do the poor prefer the prison to the workhouse, that 
they commit certain crimes in order to obtain the privilege of 
incarceration, some as many as fifty or sixty times. To pre- 
vent the house from being crowded by them, the visiting 
magistrates limited those that were sent for fourteen days to 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 393 

bread and gruel, and gave only bread and water to those com- 
mitted for seven days. But yet the vagrants outwitted the 
magistrates by committing crimes which procured them three 
months and full prison diet. On leaving the prison, they 
would say to the turnkey that they had ' capital diet, and 
they were prepared for a fresh start.' There were 1225 
prisoners in the house. Deceased had said that he was in the 
habit of walking twelve miles a day to beg. The coroner 
expressed his approval of the admirable arrangements of the 
prison, in which the jury fully acquiesced, and returned a ver- 
dict of Natural Death." 

It is very sad to think of these poor wretched skeletons, 
as committing crimes, in order to obtain " the privilege 
of incarceration," and with it food; and in a short time 
carrying away with them fifteen or twenty pounds of 
flesh produced by the prison diet, as a support for the 
ensuing period of freedom and destitution. 

About this time, a vigorous effort was made in London 
to suppress street begging, and at the same time extend 
relief to a large portion of the deserving poor. With 
this object in view, a society was formed, which was called 
the ''Leicester Square Soup Kitchen and Hospice." To 
this benevolent association large contributions were made, 
and for several years the experiment was fairly tried. It 
has been abandoned, for want of funds, I believe ; but it 
certainly relieved an immense deal of suffering whilst it 
existed. The reports of persons connected with it, from 
time to time made, brought to light a mass of facts, serv- 
ing to exhibit and expose the character and extent of the 
suffering and destitution among the lower classes of this 
country. I will furnish you with a few extracts from 
some of these reports. 



"SUPPRESSION OF STREET BEGGING — ST. JAMES'S PARISH. 

To the Chairman and Committee of the Leicester Square 
Soup-Kitchen. 

Gentlemen : In forwarding my report for the month of 
February, I have much satisfaction in drawing your attention 
to the annexed table, showing the gradual diminution of 



o 



94 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR; 



beggars detected asking alms in St. James's parish, all of 
whom were strangers, and ignorant of the measures adopted 
for their suppression. 

The licensed victuallers esteem this arrangement as a great 
boon to themselves, as well as their bar and parlor customers ; 
their attention to business being incessantly interrupted from 
dusk to closing time, in ordering out stalwart men beggars 
asking for money to pay a night's lodging ; and women, boys 
and girls, pretending to vend lucifer matches, combs, prints, 
ballads, &c. 

The success attending this evening duty the past two nights, 
has proved most satisfactory, and will, hereafter, do much 
towards removing from the streets a set of desperate prowlers, 
who, under the cloak of night meet you at every turn, and, by 
unceasing importunities to your remonstrances^ as they walk 
side by side, create considerable alarm in the timid, or espe- 
cially unprotected females. 

There can be no doubt that several thousands of vagrants 
will be drawn from the country to the metropolis this summer ; 
it therefore behooves parochial authorities — now that it is 
proved mendicity can be easily suppressed — to adopt stringent 
measures for checking the inroads of provincial mendicants, 
and for putting down the present existing intolerable nuisance 
in our streets. 

Beggars detected, total English, 63 ; total Irish, 201 ; gross 
total, 270. J. Ettershank, Supervisor. 

Monthly BejDOJi of the Leicester Square Soup Kitchen and 
Asylum, for February, 1851. - 

I beg respectfully to forward my report of this institution 
for the month of February, 1851. The table of the number 
of recipients at the kitchen shows an increase of nearly 4000 
persons over that of the month of January last : — 

Table of Numbe7^s Believed. — Relieved in Soup Kitchen, 
men, 93lf ; women, 1605; total, 10,022. — Families and sick 
resident poor, men, 2466 ; women, 3086 ; children, 12,132 ; 
total families, 1Y,684. —Total number relieved, 28,606. 

The Eefuge. — 280 women and 488 men have been provided 
with beds, supper, and breakfast. From the large numbers 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 395 

of deserving applicants applying all hours of the day, a further 
number of 356 poor men and women have partaken of a morn- 
ing and evening meal of bread and coffee. 

Want of Breasf-3Iilk. — I am happy to state that all the 
poor female sufferers applying for relief with infants in arms, 
are now free from this complaint. By dint of care, and good 
nourishing soup and bread, they recovered their milk, and 
their babies have been restored to health, and saved from an 
untimely grave. They were very grateful for the protection 
and relief afforded them in the hour of trial. 

John Browning, aged 18 ; James Kearney, 65 ; John Long, 
10 weeks; and Wm. Barton, T4 — died during the month in 
this metropolis from starvation. 

R. Crate, Superintendent. 

Ham- Yard, Great Windmill street, Feb. 28, 1851." 

lObserver, March 11th, 1851. 

The following observations are from tlie editor of the 
paper from which, the above extracts are taken, and are 
of the same date : 



"the very poor of the metropolis. 

It is a terrible and heart-rending fact, that numbers of per- 
sons annually die in the streets of London of hunger and desti- 
tution. However anxious the public may be to shut their eyes 
to this appalling reality, it cannot be qualified, much less re- 
futed. The fact stares us in the face in all its hideous de- 
formity ; fain would we shun the reflection, but it is impossible. 
Great privations are endured, especially in the winter months, 
in many foreign countries where the severity of the weather is 
most acutely felt. In the north of France, in Belgium, in 
Holland, and in many parts of (rermany, the sufferings of the 
humbler classes are very great ; but the cases are of extremely 
rare occurrence in which deaths from sheer starvation are re- 
ported to the authorities in the principal cities of those coun- 
tries. In London, however, the wealth and material greatness 
of which exceed that of any other city in Christendom, deaths 
from actual want of food are of daily occurrence. Strangers 
to our laws and social regulations may be inclined to question 
this fact. They may say that such cannot be the case in a 
country where the Government raises an enormous sum per 



396 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAB ; OPv, 

annum iu the shape of poor-nites, and whore a simultaneous 
eoUeotion of private bounty unparalleled, in amount to that 
received for similar purposes in any other eity in the world, is 
constantly g'oinp; on. The truth id" these statements cannot 
be denied, and hence the marvel that there should be in the 
metropolis so many of the very }>oor. The scdution of the 
ditliculty is, however, instant and intelligible. Enormous as is 
our national establishment for the relief of the poor, and nnme- 
rous as are our private charities, they are unable to meet the 
pressing* exigencies of those who die in tlie streets from want 
of food. There are hospitals in all quarters of the city where 
those laboring under every description of human infirmity may 
repair. The existence of present and palpable disease is the 
only qualification required for admission to those niagniticent 
institutions. I'here'are other establishments supported by the 
bounty of the atUuent, or by the assistance of the prudent, in 
the hour of prosperity, which are the receptacles of those who 
have * toiled all day, and nothing spun,' and where they may 
pass the declining years of their lives. But there is no ade- 
quate asylum for the wretched wayfarer, whose hard lot it is 
to wander hungry through the great thoroughfares of the town, 
and whose necessity ought to be sutlicient to entitle him to 
immediate relief. 

In many cases strong men, or men who were strong when 
they commenced their journey, have trudged on foot perhaps 
fifty or 100 miles, in the expectation of finding some descrip- 
tion of employment on their arrival. Their hopes, however, 
are frustrated ; no employment awaits them ; and as their 
slender resources are consumed in a few days, they are forced 
to become outcasts in the streets with no alternative except 
starvation or crime. They have no claim upon the Metro- 
politan Union House, except as casual poor. The utmost 
relief they can hope for is a morsel of bread and a roof to cover 
them for the night, and for one night only. Many of those 
M'orkmeu never return to their native place. To use an ex- 
pression famiUar to political economists, they are 'consumed' 
in the metropolis — that is, some find employment, but many, 
alas, the c:reater portion, are struck down bv disease and 
famine, and ultimately become the subject for coroners' in- 
quests, when the stereotyped verdict of * died from want and 
(lestitution' is returned. 

Within the last few days the public journals have recorded 
no less than three deaths resulting from want of actual food. 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 397 

One of tlieso wretclied \mnf^H diod on tlie pavement in the 
open street, desolate and alone, whilst thousands of his fellow- 
creatures were swarrnirif^ around him ! Here is the oflieial 
record: — 'John Browning, aged 78, a laboring man from 
Frome, in Somersetshire, fell exhausted, from inanition, in 
Mornington Crescent, on Sunday, Fi^bruary 9, 1851, and died 
a few hours afterwards. The verdict of the jury was, ' Died 
from want and di^stitution.' A policeman, giving evidence, 
Btatel, that a short time previous to the deceased's falling, he 
had ordered him, whilst lying shivering on the pavement on 
another part of his beat, to get up and move off*, as he thought 
he was shamming. The other instances to which we have 
alluded are thus chronicled : — 'At an inijuest held on Thurs- 
day (Feb. 20), on James Kearney, painter, aged 65, at the 
Goat, Tash street, Gray's Inn-lane, it was stated that the body 
lay in a wretched hovel, denuded of furniture, which had been 
sold to buy food ; and the surgeon, at the post mortem exami- 
nation, deposed that he had not found the least particle of 
solid food in the stomach,' At an inquest held the same day, 
on John Long, at the Three Compasses, Cowcross street, West 
Smithfield, the body presented an appalling appearance — was 
a 'mere skeleton.' Dr. Walker performed a post mortem 
examination, and, in accordance with his opinion, the jury 
returned a verdict — 'That the deceased died from want of 
food and nourishment.^ 

These are terrible realities, that must not be permitted to 
continue in a Christian land. For the sake of our common 
nature it must be presumed that the affluent are in ignorance 
of the existence of such appalling distress in tiie midst of un- 
precedented plenty, prosperity, and grandeur." 

Oh, of course, my dear sir, they are ignorant " of the 
existence of such appalling distress." How should it be 
otherwise ? They are not in ignorance, it Ls true, '* of 
that system of negro slavery which prevails, with its 
frightful results," (according to the ladies of Stafibrd 
House) '' in many of the vast regions of the Western 
world." But poor old John Browning lay shivering, 
" shamming," and dying, in his hunger agony arvay off 
there, upon the cold pavement of Mornington Crescent, 
hard by the Regent's Park (where he was not even allowed 
a spot on which to die in peace), and how should these 
'' affluent" English men or women be expected to know 
34 



398 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

anything about it? Ah! if it had only been his good 
fortune to have been called Uncle Tom, or Quimbo, and 
to have been '' shamming" it a little, close at hand here, 
in a negro-cabin, or cornfield, '^ in some of those vast 
regions of the Western world," why then, to be sure, 
there would have been some chance for those who live 
here ''in the midst" (as this editor says) of such ''unpre- 
cedented plenty, prosperity, and grandeur," to have known 
something of such distress, and to have made a flourish 
about it. 

But this editor adds something more in the shape of 
really valuable information. 

" The total number of persons relieved at the soup-kitchen 
in January, 1851, was 24,642, of whom 11,189 were famishing 
children. But it must not be supposed that this relief is con- 
fined to the necessitous, who are unable to work in conse- 
quence of infirmity or old age, and who are struggling to keep 
out of the workhouse. A great portion of the relief is given 
to laborers and skilled workmen for whom there is no employ- 
ment, and who would have been in all probability driven to the 
commission of crime had not this timely assistance been afforded 
to them. In the month of January last the institution relieved 
38 to laborers, 960 excavators, 548 carpenters, 184 bricklayers, 
392 plasterers, 41 butchers, 37 bakers, 185 clerks, 167 waiters, 
39 watercress-sellers, 115 costermongers, 26 bookbinders, H 
map colorers, 21 wheelwrights, 13 blacksmiths, 369 shopmen, 
8 harness-makers, 507 painters, 432 glaziers, 557 servants, 621 
female servants, 127 sailors, and 107 distressed foreigners. To 
descant upon the usefulness of such an institution would, there- 
fore, be idle. There is, however, another class of persons to 
whose wants this admirable institution has directed its atten- 
tion. It is well known that hundreds of infants annually die 
in the metropolis in consequence of the want of their natural 
food. It is impossible that the wretched mother, whose form 
is wasted by famine and exhausted by inanition, can replenish 
the fountain from which her infant ought to draw its life stream. 
Within the last twelve months 180 infants are reported to have 
died from 'want of breast milk' This calculation, however, 
gives no idea of the number who actually died from causes more 
or less attributable to a deficient supply of their natural food. In 
order to remedy as far as possible the ravages of this deplora- 
ble disease, the institution has notified the public that medical 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 399 

advice and nourishment will be afforded to all poor women ap- 
plying under such circumstances. The result has been in the 
highest degree satisfactory and gratifying, the poor women 
rapidly regaining their strength under the kindly and judicious 
treatment which has been afforded tliem." — Observer, March 
im, 1851. 

The Times, of October 13tli, 1851, contains an adver- 
tisement from the committee of the Field Lane Ragged 
School Nightly Refuge, making the following appalling 
disclosure: — '^The nightly cry of the wretched inmates 
is * Bread ! bread ! we cannot sleep for hunger. Do give 
us our morning's allowance now.' " 

Below you have another extract from a report made 
by the officers of the Leicester Square Soup Kitchen. 



"LEICESTER SQUARE SOUP-KITHEN — OCTOBER REPORT. 

To the Chairman and Committee of the Leicester square 
Soup-kitchen and Hospice. 

Gentlemen : I beg to present the report for October of our 
operations : 4301 poor persons have had a good substantial 
meal in the kitchen ; 5711 have taken the food given them 
home to their families ; 332 men and 134 women have been 
sheltered at the Refuge, and provided with a supper and break- 
fast ; *7181 men and women have reaped the advantage of the 
lavatories and cabinets ; and 285 men and 374 women have 
obtained good situations by means of the Free Registry. 

The sudden cold weather has been a trial to the poor, par- 
ticularly to old people, and when they can't get bread to eat, 
they say it pinches them up terribly. I have had lately some 
very distressing cases, much more than usual, among aged and 
infirm poor persons. I felt it my duty to keep a particular 
account of them, which can be seen when required. The 
struggle they make to keep out of a workhouse would scarcely 
be believed. Our rehef is looked upon by them as providen- 
tial. During the last ten days the applicants for relief have 
been very numerous. I have been obliged to refuse a great 
many, who begged very hard for a basin of soup and a morsel 
of bread. It is painful to refuse, but I can't relieve more per- 
sons than the food in the kitchen gives me the power of doing. 



400 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

I bos: respectfully to appeal to you, gentlemen, to allow me to 
give orders for more meat and bread, at least as long as the 
bitter cold weather lasts. 

] feel it my duty to observe that in the papers of this day, 
the Registrar-General in his weekly account of the people who 
die in London, states, one died from destitution, and five 
children at the breast from want of food. 

Your respectful servant, 

Robert Crate, Superintendent." 
[Obsei'ver, November lOth, 1851. 

On the 22d of December in the same year, this journal 
published a report which contained the following lan- 
guage 

*' The resident poor appear to snfler much from the inclem- 
ency of the weather, particularly where the father or mother 
is sick whilst out of work. Their submissive looks, pallid 
faces, and shivering limbs, too plainly indicate the extent of 
their inward want and absence of proper warm clothing. To 
the pangs of an empty stomach may be added the wretched- 
ness of an empty tire-grate and the miseries of a little family 
at home crying for bread. I think our Kitchen has been justly 
termed the * barometer of poverty,' as any one who visits our 
crowded doors at 3 o'clock will soon discover the index of 
want prevailing upon the working-classes. The mutton broth 
has been of great service to poor women with infants at their 
breasts. Both mother and child rapidly gain health and 
strength with this food. It is very painful to know that, from 
the want of it, sickness, misery, and death, abound in the dwel- 
lings of hundreds of the poor of this metropolis. The Regis- 
trar-General records, in his last week's report, the death of 
eight children from * want of breast-milk' and 'inanition,' which, 
I presume, means downright starvation.'"* 

Again we find the following at another date : 

* For diflerent condition of slave mothers and children, see App., D., 
U 10, 32, 52, 68, 85, 98. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGIJ\.ND. 401 



" LEICESTER SQUARE SOL'P-KITCIIEN AND IIOBPICE. — REPORT 
OF OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY, 1852. 

To the C/i airman and GommiUee of the Leicester Square 
Houp- kitchen. 

Gentlemen : I regret to be compelled to state that a very 
larg-e number of poor families are still without employment. 

Those who have to depart from our kitchen since one copper 
has not been in use from want of funds, amount on the avera^^e 
to 343 poor families daily, who certainly chiefly depended on 
this supply for their support. Many have walked miles to 
obtain a ticket of relief, and it is truly i;ainful to see these poor 
creatures obliged to return home with their pitchers and aprons 
empty, to a host of 'expectant little ones,' who are awaiting 
the meal of bread and soup. 

The infant mortality, from want of food, continues on the 
increase. The Ilegistrar-General's last weekly report repre- 
sents eight to have died from 'starvation.' Deaths among 
adults from the same cause are also unusually great. 

KoBERT Crate, Superintendent. 
John Smart, Assistant-Secretary." 
[Observer, March Hth, 1852. 

This was a very interesting charity, certainly, and un- 
less it was developing an evil influence in some direction, 
which is not evident to the casual observer, it is greatly 
to be regretted that it should ever have been abandoned, 
and should hot have been placed upon a permanent basis. 
In the following article you have another example of those 
deaths from destitution, so frequent in England : 



"ANOTHER DEATH FROM STARVATION. 

Late on Friday evening an inquest was held by Mr. Baker, 
at the Black Horse public house, Kingsland, on the body of 
Kliza Greenway, aged 24, who died in the infirmary of Shore- 
ditch Workhouse under very distressing circumstances. Several 
witnesses showed that the deceased was discovered a few yards 
from the Eagle Tavern (Grecian Saloonj, City road, which is 
situated just by the boundary marks of the parishes of St. Luke 
and St. Leonard, Shoreditch. She was taken to the work- 
34* 2a 



•102 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

house of the former parish by a police-constable, where they 
refused to take her in. This would not hare occurred at the 
Kefug-e of the Leicester Square Soup-kitchen. The officers 
then conveyed her to the workhouse of Shoredirch, where she 
was admitted directly, seen by the surgeon, and placed in bed. 
She then became sensible, and stated that she lived in Long- 
lane, Smithfield. She had received continued ill-treatment, 
which induced her to run away from the house and wander the 
public streets in a state of starvation until relieved by the 
police officer. The unfortunate creature, after having become 
the victim of the most heartless villany, closed, on Wednesday 
last, her wretched career of disgrace, penury, and destitution.'' 
— Observer, Deeember Iblh, 1851 

From the next extract you will learn something of the 
manner in which the poor of the metropolis are sometimes 
lodged ; and with its aid you w^ill have presented for your 
con'templation another aspect of the subject w^hich we are 
considering. 

"the common LODGING-HOrSES IN ST. GILES'S. 

Daniel Colhns, John Leary, John SuUivan, Daniel Kirby, 
Michael Sullivan, and Johanna Barry, appeared upon an ad- 
journed summons charging them with taking in lodgers at 21 
Church lane. St. Giles's, the house not being approved for that 
purpose by the officer appointed by the local authority, in pur- 
suance of the provisions of the Common Lodging-Houses Act 
passed last session. 

Inspector Reeves said, that on visiting the house, in the first 
room he found a man, his wife, and three children, a boy thir- 
teen years old, and a girl aged fifteen years, and a man, his 
wife, and three girls. There was only one bedstead in the 
room, and no division of the sexes. The room ought to have 
contained only nine persons. The next two rooms were occu- 
pied each by'a family. In the fourth room, kept by Kirby, 
there were a man, his wife, and three children, two females, 
and another family of four. The occupier of the next room 
complied with the regulations, but in that occupied by Michael 
Suhivan there were four families, in all twelve people. The 
other rooms were equally overcrowded, notwithstanding the 
warning which the keepers had received, and the whole house 
was in a most filthy and pestilential condition. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 403 

William Parker, landlord of the Robin Hood, who let the 
rooms to the defendants, said that he paid £2d a year rent for 
the house to Mr. Thomas Grant, of Barnet, the owner of the 
house. He received about 23s. a week from the defendants, 
in suras varying from 2s. to 4s. a week. There was only one 
water-closet for the use of all the lodgers, and there was no 
water laid on, because the Commissioners of Sewers had un- 
dertaken to lay it on, and had not doiie so. 

Mr. Reeves said the commissioners consented to supply water 
out of compassion, to relieve the necessities of the lodgers. 

Mr. Henry said the defendants could be got rid of at once, 
and as the law was stringent upon the subject, such an abomi- 
nable system should be speedily removed. 

Parker stated that the expense of water was included in the 
rent, and it could be obtained at the back of his public house, 
though without passing through it. He had twenty-five tenants 
in another house, who had the privilege of obtaining water 
from his place. 

Mr. Henry said it was clear that Parker was responsible for 
the house being in such a condition, principally on account of 
the exorbitant rent he received from the defendants. He should 
not impose any fine on the present occasion, but he should 
call upon the witness, as well as the defendants, to sign a written 
agreement, undertaking in the first place, to have the house 
registered, and in the next, to act up to the regulations with 
regard to the number of lodgers in each room. The object 
of the recent act was to protect the poorer classes from impo- 
sition. He recommended Parker to be more cautious in future, 
or he might find the license of his public house in jeopardy. 

An agreement having been drawn up and signed, the sum- 
monses were adjourned for a month."* — Observer, May od, 
1852. 

The next two extracts present you with one of the 
most touching and affecting cases with which you have 
ever met ; and one which serves, in an eminent degree, 
to illustrate the character and extent of the suffering, 
both physical and mental, to which a large proportion of 
the people of this kingdom are subject. 

* See App., D., as to the provision which is made for the lodgings of 
slaves. 



4:04 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR^ 



"ATTEMPT OF TWO MAIDEN LADIES TO COMMIT SUICIDE, 

A most extraordinary and painful case, in which a fatal 
termination was averted by the prompt humaniry of the parties 
concerned, has taken place in Marylebone. It appears that 
about a month since two ladies of respectable appearance and 
highly superior manners, named Harriet and Julia Sharpley, 
engaged a back attic at Mrs. Turner's, 41 Adam street, Edge- 
ware" road. They paid the rent regularly, and went out 
together every day for the first fortnight, and their appearance, 
though melancholy, denoted that they had seen better days. 
A fortnight since last Wednesday they had ceased to leave 
their room, which was kept locked. The woman in the adjoiu- 
ino- room expressed her conviction that they had no food, as 
she never heard the sound of a plate, knife, or fork. On Wed- 
nesday, the 8th instant, Mrs. Turner, the landlady, in order to 
learn the cause of their non-appearance, knocked at the room, 
and one of the ladies replied that she would open the door in 
the evening. In the evening she was admitted, and they ap- 
peared in a most emaciated state, but would not admit that 
they wanted food. She brought them some tea, and some 
bread and butter. They thanked her for her kindness, but 
declined taking it. She, however, insisted on leaving it. 
Feeling her position delicate, she did not disturb them until 
Wednesday last, when a lodger in the next room told her that 
she heard moans in the back attic. On this she informed the 
parochial authorities, and Mr. Collett, an out-door inspector 
of the poor, proceeded to the place, and found the two sisters 
lying on the bed dressed, and locked in each other's arms. 
They were both sensible, but so weak, that they could not 
stand, and one of them fainted in Mr. Collett's arms, as he 
attempted to raise her. He at once administered brandy and 
wine mixed with water, and stimulants and nourishment were 
administered by force, as they were either unwilling or too 
weak to take them. They rallied a little ; and on Thursday 
were removed to the workhouse in a cab. They expressed the 
utmost horror at going to the ' Union,' and one of them was so 
affected during the removal, that it was thought she would 
have died. They were, however, placed there under medical 
care, both seeming heart-broken at their position. It appears 
that the unfortunate ladies, the eldest of whom is 41 years of 
age, and the youngest 39, have an aged father and mother, 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 405 

reduced from affluence to live with some relative in a small 
cottage at Sinefield, near Slough. Their father formerly kept 
a large school in the vicinity of Windsor. His unfortunate 
daugiiters were educated as governesses, but being unable to 
obtain employment, and their parents being unable to support 
them, they came to London to seek needlework, by which 
means they hoped to maintain themselves. They were unsuc- 
cessful, and their slender means becoming exhausted, they re- 
solved, rather than be a burden to their parents, or to bring 
disgrace on their family by applying for relief, to starve together. 
They still remain in the Marylebone Infirmary, and object to 
take food. The condition of their apartment was perfectly 
cleanly, and it has been ascertained that the only drink they 
had for more than a fortnight was the drippings of the pipe 
from the roof of the house." — Observer, September 20th, 1852. 

As you are probably interested in the fate of these un- 
fortunate ladies, I will add here that, some months subse- 
quently, at a meeting of the Directors and Guardians of 
the Poor, a letter from these ladies was read, which you 
will find referred to below ; 



"THE LATE ATTEMPTED VOLUNTARY STARVATION AT 
MARYLEBONE. 

On Saturday, at the weekly meeting of the Directors and 
Guardians of the Poor of St. Marylebone, held in the board 
room of the workhouse, jSTewroad, Mr. Jacolb Bell in the chair, 
a letter was read from the Misses Sharpley, the two maiden 
ladies whose case, it will be rememberecl, excited, some few 
months back, a great amount of sympathy and interest ou 
account of their determined attempt to commit self-destruction 
by voluntary starvation. The communication was a demand 
for parochial relief; .and the letter stated that they (the Misses 
Sharpley) had used their best endeavors to maintain them- 
selves by doing Berlin wool and crochet work, but that it had 
proved an utter failure. They expressed their determination 
to refuse to return to their place of settlement, to which they 
had been passed by the parish of Marylebone, namely Slough, 
near Windsor ; and hinted that, sooner than do so, they were 
determined to die together. It will be remembered that the 
Board of Guardians of Marylebone had, at the time the Misses 



406 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

» 
Sharpley made an attempt at self destruction, sums of money 
forwarded to the workhouse by several benevolent individuals, 
and, in consequence of the fiat refusal on their part to receive 
a fraction in the shape of charity, the sums sent by persons 
whose addresses were known were returned. The Board have, 
however, about £16 still in hand ; but it is understood that the 
Misses Sharpley still refuse to receive anything in the shape 
of charity from any one. The Board directed the matter to 
be referred to Mr. Messer, the relieving ofl&cer, to be dealt with 
in the usual way."- — Observer, July Uh, 1853. 

I hope, dear Major, that the interest you have taken in 
the matter contained in this letter has prevented you from 
observing its great length, and that you have not been 
impatiently waiting to hear that I am, as ever, 

Respectfully, 

Your friend and cousin, 
To Maj. J. Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 407 



LETTER XLI. 

DISTRESS AND DESTITUTION IN THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS 

OF ENGLAND ADVENTURE OF DR. JONES AND HIS SERVANT 

ON THE ROAD FROM LONDON TO GRAVESEND J IN WHICH 
BUCK EMULATES THE CHARACTER OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 

London, May 4th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — In tlie autumn of 1852, I made an ex- 
cursion into some of the agricultural districts in several 
parts of England. On that tour, I saw enough to con- 
vince me that poverty, and consequent suffering, were by 
no means confined to the manufacturing districts, or to 
the metropolis. Indeed, I found that London was re- 
garded as affording resources to which the laborer might 
resort for employment when he was unable to find it in 
the country, and in the line of pursuits to which he was 
most accustomed. I found that thousands, who had been 
employed during the spring and summer months, were 
now destitute of the means of support ; and that, before 
them, the approaching winter months presented a pros- 
pect of want and suff'ering for themselves and families. 
Others among the class of agricultural laborers were 
earning a subsistence just sufficient to keep soul and body 
together, but not enough " to keep the wolf from the door " 
of their miserable cottages. 

It is a fact. Major, that thousands of these laborers 
upon the estates of large (and liberal, too, many of them) 
landed proprietors, are earning not more than six or seven 
shillings per week. Out of this has to be paid at least 
one shilling for rent, and another for coal. This leaves 
four or five shillings (or say, one dollar and twenty-five 
cents) ; out of which the week's supply of food and cloth- 
ing - for the whole family must necessarily come. That 
family frequently consists of husband, wife, and seven or 
eight small children. The coal consumed is nearly all 



408 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD ; OR, 

used in cooking, and none can bo spared for purposes of 
Avarmth. Tlio food is chiefly brown bread. You can 
easily see that, without fuel, with limited and meagre diet, 
whicn affords but little warmth during the long and bitter 
winter nights, there is not inuch sleep for these poor crea- 
tures ; and that the wail of woo Avhich (according to the 
*' London Times ") is so often uttered by the wretched 
little children of the ragged-schools, is taken up by many 
a group of shivering little ones in these rural districts, 
and the deep stillness of the winter night is broken by 
the agonizing cry. ** Bread, bread ! we cannot sleep for 
hunger."* 

What is to be said for the comfort of the parents, 
themselves cramped \vith inanition and cold,w^ho listen to 
this appeal? Is it any w\')nder that lunatic asylums 
swarm with inmates in a land where such things be ? 

Of the extent to which such destitution as I have been 
describing exists, even in the counties nearest to London, 
you may form some opinion from the following, which is 
one of the reports made by the superintendent of the 
Leicester Square Soup Kitchen, in the beginning of the 
year 1S53. 

"LEICESTER SQUARE SOUP-KITCHEN AND HOSPICE. 

The good which has been done by this beneficent institution 
is iucaloulable. It ha^ fed the hnngTV, and filled the poor 
with good things, in this the most dangerous, as well as the 
most rigorous season of the year. Xo fewer than 23.T59 
wretched civatures have actually been kept from starvation by 
its agency in the past month, a great proportion of whieh were 
the most helpless of all human beings in a great city — namely, 
agricultural laborers and their families. Society, therefore, 
owes this establishment the most munificent support, and espe- 
cially that portion of it comprehended under the title of conn- 
try gentlemen. Let it never be forgotten, however, that the 
assistance given to the necessitous and the starving is in the 
nature of a loan made to Heaven, and that in no instance 
could sueh aid meet more effectual application to human relief 
than in this establishment. 

A vast number of agricultural and field laborers still visit 
* See Appendix, J. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 409 

the kitchen, several of whom, after having unsuccessfully sought 
for employment in and round London, have again visited the 
institution, begging for food to sustain them, in their efforts 
to procure work elsewhere, or to strengthen them on their re- 
turn homewards ; others have been overheard to express to 
one another their inclination to steal the first thing they came 
across, merely for the comfort of a prison for a short time. 
Workhouses they appear to abhor, preferring to starve or 
steal, rather than enter within the union doors, plainly show- 
ing the difference of treatment and food towards the felon and 
the recipient of parochial Ijounty, 

There is a large numljcr of able-bodied lads willing to be 
shipped for sea service, if we had only the means of sending 
them to sea. Robert Crate, Superintendent.'^ 

Ham- Yard, Feb. 5, 1803. 

[^Observer, February \Uh, 1853. 

It was shortly after the period to which I have above 
referred, and in the month of November, 1852, that I 
went down to Gravesend, for the purpose of seeing some 
of the gardens (they make the finest asparagus there in 
the world, perhaps) in that vicinity, and of learning some- 
what, it might be, of their mwie of horticulture. Graves- 
end is on the Thames, some twenty miles below London ; 
and to visit it, I employed a private conveyance sufficient 
for Buck and myself. 

A few miles frem London, and between that city and 
Dartford, we saw approaching us, and coming from the 
direction of the latter place, two women, who were moving 
very slowly, one of them being occasionally assisted by 
the other. I was about to pass them, when something in 
the appearance of one of these women arrested my atten- 
tion, and induced me to call a halt and speak to her. 

" My good woman," said I, '' you seem to be suffering." 

The woman, overcome, apparently, by this unexpected 
expression of sympathy, stopped, looked into my face 
steadily, and burst into tears. 

''See here," said she; ''this child is but a few hours 

old." And she took from some sort of a dingy and 

ragged wrapper, and held up to our astonished gaze, a 

perfectly naked, newly-born babe ; and then she sat down 

35 



410 THE SLAVElIOLDEll ABEOAD ; OR, 

upon a bank on tlio roadside, tlio pictnro of outcast and 
forlorn dot^olation . 

" Cvraoious hoavons !" e^aid I, '' wliat is vour meanino"?" 

*' My child lias boon Init a little while horn/' said she, 
crying as if she would break her heart, '' hnd I have no 
where to go with it, and nothing for myself or it." 

I was lairly stunned by the whole thing, Major ; and 
could sc-iu'cely collect my senses sufficiently to realize 
what I heard and saw. But Buck comprehended, and 
had already sprung to the ground, opened his carpet-bag, 
and whipped out a Hannel shirt, which he rapidly ripped, 
split, and tied with strips from one of his handkerchiefs, 
so as to convert it into a covering for the child, with 
which he gently aided the mother to envelop it. He then 
commenced to select other portions of his clothing, when 
I stopped him, and told him to give her the blanket 
which we had brought along as a wrapper for our feet, 
together with one or two other articles, which I desig- 
nated, and which would do for her until she could pro- 
cure other appliances. 

When this had been done, Buck sat down by the wo- 
man, looked kindly at her, and laid his coarse hand softly 
on the baby, whilst the tears streamed from his eyes. 

'^jin you haint got no home ?'' said he, presently. 

" None, none," said the woman ; " not a place to lay 
my head on, and no food, no food. I did not care so much 
for myself until this child was born ; but now I feel that 
it's worse than a thousand deaths of my own to see it die 
of hunger." 

''Poor crittur ! poor crittur!" said Buck; and I am 
sure I don't know which wept the most bitterly over that 
unconscious baby — Buck or its mother. 

''Where do you come from," said I, "and where are 
you going ?'.' 

" I came from G-ravesend," said she. " My husband 
and I followed the road, sometimes beo-o-ins:, and some- 
times doing chores about, until he died, several months 
ago. Since then, I continued on the tramp. I was on 
my way from G-ravesend to London, and near Dartford, 
when, having no money to pay for a lodging, I crept, 
without being seen, into a barn, as night came on. Worn 




^ 

9 

I 






BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 411 

down with weariness and hunger, I could not sleep, but 
grew very sick ; which hastened my confinement, I sup- 
pose, and about two or three o'clock in the morning, my 
child was born." 

''An you all alone by yourself, poor 'oman?" said 
Buck. 

''Yes." 

'' Oh, my God," said he, fairly convulsed with emotion, 
''thy ways are past findin out — help me to be thankful 
for my blessins." 

" I was alone," said the woman, " until this morning ; 
when a dog came, and seeing me, ran out and barked. 
This brought a man to the spot, who said he w^as the 
owner of the place. He ordered me to leave, and I had 
it to do." 

" But you didn't tell him your sitiwation, surely," said 
Buck. "You didn't show him your baby — say you 
didn't !" 

" Yes I did, though ; and he told me that, if he gave 
shelter to every houseless woman that chose to come and 
litter in his barn, he would soon be overrun with all the 
trampers in England. I felt that there was a great deal 
of truth in what he said, and I crawled out and got away 
as well as I could." 

" God be thanked, Marster," said Buck, " that we 
haint got to live in a country whar poor critturs gits so 
use to sich conduct tell they don't complain of it !" 

" I then went to Dartford workhouse," continued the 
woman. 

"Howfurr?" said Buck. 

"About two miles, I think. I knocked at the gate, and 
a keeper came out. I told him my condition, but he 
would not let me in." 

"Poor thing! Did you show him your baby, too?" 
said Buck. 

" I did, but he told me to be off — that I did not belong 
there, and could not be admitted ; and he closed the gate 
on me. I turned towards London, and struggled along ; 
for now my baby was suffering, and I was anxious to save 
it from dying, if I could. I felt, though, as if I should 
faint and fall every minute ; and was just about giving 



412 THE SLAVEUOLDEK ABHOAD ; OB, 

up, >Yhon thie^ gwnl woman overtook mo on ilio road. 
Sno, too. Ava^ on hor ^vay to London. I told lior niy story, 
and that 1 Avas unable to proeood. She took mo into an 
alo-liouso, and, tliougli slio liorj?olf seems to be poor, slio 
bought lor me a little bread and meat, and a pint of beer. 
This has strengthened me a bit, and I hope to reaeh Lon- 
don ; but what to do after I get there, is more than I can 
tell. I give you a thousand thanks, sir," said she to me ; 
*' and as for this black man, I am sure I c^n never thank 
him enough for his kindness to mo and my baby." And 
rising, she shook Buck warmly by the hand. 

I gave the woman some directions as to the method of 
getting assistance at one of the workhouses, but advised 
her to stop at the nearest place where she could get ad- 
mittance until she was stronger, added something besides 
advice, and we parted. Some time afterwai'ds, I clipped 
the following reference to her from one of the journals. 
She had found shelter and relief, it seems, at one of tho 
London unions. 

"CAN THIS BE TRrE ? 

!Mr. Elliott, reg'istrar of births and deaths of the Boroug-h- 
road sub-distriet. appends the following* note to liis last re- 
turn: — 'At the workhouse, on the 11th inst., the nurse iu tho 
lying-in-ward directed my attention to a wonu\n with an infant, 
saying. *I suppose you eannot register the child, as it was not 
born here.' I inquired of the woman where the child was 
born, and she made the following statement, which I give in 
her own words : — '^Nly name is Eliza Hayes, twenty-live years 
old. My husband has been four months dead. I was on tramp 
on the 1st of November near Partford. I came from Graves- 
end. I had no money, and could not get a lodging. 1 lay 
down iu a barn between seven and eight o'elock. Paring the 
night I was taken very ill, and delivered myself of a female 
child, about two or three o'cloek in the morning. In the 
morning a nmn came and said I must turn out. I went to 
the Partford Fuion. I think it was two miles oil*. I kuoeked 
at the gate, and a man came. I told him what had happened 
to me, and showed him the baby, naked. He said he could 
not take me iu. and said that it was of no use for me to wait 
there ; he shut the gate, aud I came along the road. A poor 
travelling woman overtook me. I told her all about it. I 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 413 

said to licr, ' I uin not able to go along,' and she took me into 
a boer-shop and gave me a piece of bread and meat, and a 
pint of beer; that brought me along the road, and she and I 
came into London together. She directed me to this work- 
house, and I was taken in dripping wet; it hud rained hard 
all the way.' " — WHeJcly DiHjjatdh, November 2\iit, 1852. 

I fjrid it necessary to ond this letter here; and must 
forthwith assure yoii, Major, that I am, 
Very respectfully, 

Your friend and cousin, 
P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, Pineville, Geo., 

U. H. of America. 



LETTER XLIL 

BUCK WrrNESSES A MEETING B1:TWEEN ST. JAMES, AND ST, 
GILES, IN WHICH THE LATTER, AS USUAL, IS MADE TO TAKE 
THE KKNNEL — EXTENT OF DESTITUTION IN THE METROPO- 
LIS AND ITS VICINITY — DEATH FROM STARVATION, AND 
SHOCKING DESTITUTION — ANOTHER DEATH FROM DESTITU- 
TION — DISTRESSING PICTURE OF DEGRADATION AND DESTI- 
TUTION. 

London, May 0th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — One evening, in the month of January, 
1853, my servant returned from a ramble into Hyde 
Park. When I had settled down in my room for the 
night, and he had brought my dressing-gown and slip- 
jpers, stirred up the fire, and made everything snug and 
comfortable, he proceeded to unfold his budget of news, 
as was frequently his custom. Among other things, he 
related an affair which he had witnessed just before re- 
turning homewards. I prefer to give you the adventure 
as nearly in his own words as possible, as the simplicity 
with which he expresses himself sometimes serves to ren- 
der his narrative amusing. 
35* 



•114 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

"I \Yas passin 'long, Marster/' said he, I'jest 'bout as 
hit was gittin dark liko, an not thinkin nothiu of no fuss, 
an nothm at all, an first thing I knowed, I seed tAvo men 
a little ways 'fore me, — sorter wagabon-lookin fellers they 
was, — an one on 'um, says he, 'Hell-fire!' says he; 'what 
are yer doin thar, Jack? Why don't yer come along?* 
says he. 

I looked at tother one on 'um, an he was gwine on the 
curosest ever I seed. Ho was sorter standin half bent 
down like, with his hands on his knees, an peepin through 
the area oTatins, as ef he was trvin to see throuo'li a win- 
der in the house, an snufiin up the ar that come out of a 
kitchen winder with all his might. Then he tuk up his 
hands from his knees, an put 'um up to his seedy ole hat, 
an sorter mashed hit down like, he did, an made motions 
with his fists, as ef at somebody in the house. 

' What the devil are yer squarin at thar ?' says tother 
wagabon. ' Why don't yer come along, I say ?' says he. 

' I say, Bill, thar s a mort a dinner gwine on here for 
these 'ristocrats. Jest smell it,' savs he ; an I could hear 
him sniffle, Marster, clean to whar I stood. ' Thar's 'nufi' 
gwine up thar,' says he, 'to feed us a week, an here 
am I a starvin. I'm blowed ef I stand it,' says he. ' Hit's 
'nufi' to make a man cuss God an die,' says he, jest so. 

'Yer had better come 'long,' says tother; 'are yer 
crazy ?* 

' Yes, I'm crazy, Bill — crazy,' says he, smashin his hat 
down agin, ' crazy to think that these here people's got 
more than they wants, whul I'm a dyin for bread,' says 
he, ' an don't know whar to o-it it. I'm blowed ef I stand 
it, I say. Ill have some on it, ef I die for it.' 

' Jest yer come along, I say,' says tother. 

But no ; the man went up to the door of the house, an 
beat hit with his fist, an pulled the bell, all at same time, 
an tried to open hit. Tother man went an tried to git 
him away, but he couldn't. Bomby a 'oman, she come 
to the door, an opened hit a Httle, an when she saw the 
man, she slammed hit to, quick as she could. The man 
tried to perwent her, but she was too quick lor him. Im- 
mediently afterwards, a fine ole gen'l'man come to the 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 415 

door, an opened it, an says, says he, ' What do you want ?' 
says he. 

' Some thin to eat,' says the man. ' I'm starvin, an must 
die ef I don't git somethin soon,' says he. 

Then the gen'l'man spoke up high, an says, says he, 
' Go away, feller,' says he, ' I've no food for you. Be off,' 
says he. 

But the wagabon wouldn't, an looked mighty stubborn. 

' Go away, I tell you, or I shall give you into custody,' 
says the gen'l'man. ^ I will send for the pleece immedi- 
ently,' says he, ' unless you leave.' 

' You an the pleece may both go to hell !' says the wa- 
gabon. ' What does a man in my sitiwation care for 
pleece? Give me some food, I tell you.' 

' I shall do no sich thing,' says the gen'l'man. ' Leave, 
feller!' 

'I'm damned ef I do,' says the man, jest so; an then 
he tried to shove by the gen'l'man, who perwented him, 
an the wagabcn fired away, an gin him fits, in little or 
no time, I tell you, Marster. He soon made the blood 
fly. Then the women of the house, they sot up sich a 
hellabaloo, an screamed an yelled so, that the pleece come 
runnin up immcdiently, sure enough, an tuk the man 
away. 'Fore they got thar, tother man, he run off, I 
bleeve — ^leastwise, I didn't see him any more. When they 
was carryin off the wagabon, I heerd him say, ' Leave go 
your grip upon my throat, sargeant ; I'm weak arter this 
little skrimmage, for I haint had a mouthful to eat sense 
yesterday,' says he. * I thought to git somethin here,' 
says he; 'from this ole nob ; but his heart was reglar hard,' 
says he. ' Well, anyhow,' says he, very sulky like, ' ef 
I didn't taste his beef, I drawed some of his claret,' says 
he." 

'' Where were you all this time?" said I. 

Buck. ''Not fur off, but sorter skreened from sight 
like. An I kep close tell everything was quiet, for fear I 
might be tuk up upon spishun that I blonged with the 
wagabon. Fact is, though, Marster, I was mighty sorry 
for the feller, when I come to think 'bout it. The man 
was raal hongry, Marster, I do bleeve, an sorter got des- 
prate when the smell o' them good vitels come steamin up 



416 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD ; OR, 

througli tlie gratin. Ef lie Ladii't had anything to eat 
all day, — an he looked like he hadn't, — an ef he didn't 
have no place to go to git none, hit was mighty aggra- 
watin, sartain, jest at that time to ketch the smell o' that 
roast beef. The Lord save me from sich a temtation !" 

Myself. ^^Amen." 

Buck. ^^ Tell you what was sorter try in to the poor 
feller, too, Marster. When that ole gen'l'man come to 
the door, he come sorter suckin his teeth, like people gin- 
erly does, you know, Marster, when they's jest got up 
from table ; an he looked comftable an satisfied, like any- 
body does who has a good dinner waitin on him ; an when 
I come to think 'bout it, I didn't wonder that, when he 
wouldn't give that poor hongry feller nothin, he got per- 
woked in his mind, an sorter felt like people an Provi- 
dence was both powerful hard upon him. Well, hit's all 
right, I spose, Marster ; but I can't onderstand it. To 
save my life, I can't onderstand how hit is, that in a 
country like this, whar thar's so many great rich people, 
same time thar should be so many poor ones. Howbeever, 
maybe hit's becase a few's got so powerful much, Marster, 
that thar's not 'nuff left for the balance. Don't you think 
so, Marster?" 

Myself. '^ You have the true reason, I suspect. Buck. 
St. James takes the lion's share here, I am afraid, and St. 
Griles must needs make a starve of it." 

Buck. '^ Was that what the names of them people was, 
sir?" 

Myself. ^^Not that I know of, Buck; but I am sure 
that, when those two men met at that door, they might 
very Avell have stood for the picture of the characters I 
have named. Then, certainly, in the language of the 
' Times,' was ' the extreme of destitution and despair face 
to face with the extreme of luxury and physical enjoy- 
ment.' I hope, indeed, that the violence which on this 
occasion transpired may not prove typical of what shall 
occur when St. James and St. Giles shall some time meet 
again ; for in that event, if the la^tter should happen to 
have a sufficient following at his back, those other words 
of that celebrated journal may come to pass, and 'this 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 417 

disorder and wrong will result very calamitously to the 
entire social system.' " 

A day or two after tlie above conversation, I noticed 
the following article in the morning's paper, which I sus- 
pected referred to the same transaction which my servant 
had witnessed : 



"ASSAULT ON A MILITARY OFFICER. 

At the Marylebone court, on Tuesday, John Welch, a de- 
termined-lookinc^ fellow, who said he was a laborer, was 
charged before Mr, Broughton with having assaulted Colonel 
Tovey, of 54, Cambridge-terrace, Hyde Park. The colonel, 
whose left eye was blackened and much swollen, said that on 
the previous evening, between seven and eight o'clock, whilst 
sitting at his dinner, two of his female servants rushed into 
the room in a fright, and told him two men were at the front 
door trying to force their way in. He directly rose and went 
to the door, and saw defendant standing there ; he told him if 
he did not go away he would send for the police. The pri- 
soner said, in a determined tone, ' I'm starving, and relief I 
must have.' He told him he would give him into custody, 
when the prisoner told him that the ' police and he might go 
to a certain place.' He then told him to quit, and saw he 
had something in his hand, and meant to act. The prisoner 
struck witness several tremendous blows on the left eye, and 
was given into custody. Defendant, in his defence, said he 
called to ask for a ticket for the 'night refuge,' which was 
denied. Mr. Broughton committed him to the House of Cor- 
rection for two months." — Observer, January 2*lth, 1853. 

And now, what will you think of the happiness of this 
country, or its destiny, when you are told, as in the fol- 
lowing article, that there were, during the year immedi- 
ately preceding this time, a quarter of a million of human 
beings, in and about London, in the same condition with 
this unhappy pauper ? 

" It is the fashion to decry the conduct of the poor, because 
to do so saves the pocket of the rich — who, of course, could 
not think of bestowing pecuniary aid upon immoral persons, 
&c. ; but the report of the committee under notice tells an- 
other and different tale of these unhappy creatures, as a refe- 

2b 



4 IS THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

rence to the tifili parag-rapli will prove. In llio entire mass 
of human misery above adverted to — a quarter of a million of 
men. women, and ehildren. every man. woman, and child of 
whom, when he or she rose on any morning;, knew not whether 
a meal of food was to be had durinii* the whole 'weary day,' 
— there was not one case of misconduct as far as the society 
was concerned ; nay, not one failed in that rarest of all virtues 
in a higdi state of civilization, jrratitude for the kindness and 
hospitality which was shown. Furthermore, in no sing-le in- 
stance has the least outrage against the law, however trilling, 
been traceable to any of the recipients of the daily dole be- 
stowed by this praiseworthy institution.'' — Obsei^ver, Decem- 
ber, lS5i>. 

During tlie same winter, many cases of heart-rending 
destitution were brouglit to my attention. Among the 
rest was the following, wliieh is so distressing that I can 
with difficulty comment upon it ; and I hesitate to linger 
over it until I can call your attention to that which must 
impress us (who have been so long looking behind the 
scenes where the great drama of English life is being en- 
acted) as a horrible piece of acting on the part of the 
coroner and jury, who protest that " it was most distress- 
ing that a poor woman should perish in such a way, when 
there icere so mam/ vicans of getting relief." 



"DEATH FKOM STARVATION — SHOCKING DESTITUTION. 

On Friday evening Mr. W. Baker, the coroner, held an in- 
quest at the William tlu^ Fourth, public house. New Gravel 
lane, Shadwell, on view of tlie emaciated body of Mary Sandry, 
aged 43 years, who died from starvation in an empty room, 
situated at No. 1 Oow lane, Shadwell. 

It appeared from tlie evidence that the deceased was the 
wife of a laboring man, who. with five young children, came 
from Ireland two months since, with a few shillings, which the 
man expended in purchasing a small stock of braces. The 
family, seven in number, took the room in Cow lane, for which 
they were to pay l8. 9d. per week. The man hawked the 
braces about the streets and public-houses since his arrival in 
London, and although his wife and children were without food 
and money he never applied for relief. On Monday morning 
last a female lodirer asked the eldest child how the deceased 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 419 

was, as she had heard her coughing all the previous night. 
The child said her mother was dying, and requested the lodger 
to come and see her. The female did so, and was astonished to 
find that the deceased was lying on a small heap of straw 
without the slightest covering. The room was completely 
destitute of furniture, firing, or food. The lodger asked her 
why she and her children had remained in such a fearful state 
so long, when the deceased replied, * Oh pray do not look at 
my poverty, but try and get me a doctor.' The female ran to 
the house of Mr. Sargeant, the relieving-ofiicer of Shadwell, 
who was from home. In the meanwhile the deceased grew 
worse, and before any medical assistance could be obtained the 
tinfortunate woman expired. Mr. Sargeant attended at 6 
o'clock in the evening, and when he found the deceased dead 
he expressed his regret that his aid had not been called sooner. 
The officer immediately gave an order for the children and 
father to be supplied with bread, meat, oatmeal, a blanket, and 
a bed, as the children were sitting on the bare flooring, crying 
from hunger and cold, by the side of the mother's dead body. 

The coroner, and the whole of the jury, said they never 
heard of such a dreadful case of destitution, and it was most 
distressing that a poor woman should perish in such a way, 
when there were so many means of getting relief. 

The husband said, in answer to the coroner, that he did not 
apply for assistance, because he thought they would send him 
and his family back to Ireland. The whole of them had sub- 
sisted during the two months on the profit they made on the 
5s. worth of braces. 

Mr. Thomas Peete, the surgeon, said the deceased died from 
starvation and exposure to the cold. lie never met with such 
a dreadful case of poverty. 

The coroner and jury were of opinion that the father and 
five children ought to be immediately removed to the work- 
house, until something could be done for them. 

Verdict — ' Natural death, accelerated by extreme want and 
destitution.'" — Weekly Dispatch, February Qth, 1853. 

During the past year, I was made acquainted with the 
following case. It is even more painful than the last, if 
that be possible. 

"DEATH FROM DESTITUTION. 

On Wednesday, Mr. Brent held an inquest at the Cheshire 
Cheese, Mount Pleasant, Gray's Inn lajie, on Elizabeth Julia 



4^> iUK {>l*AVKUvVUl>Klv AURvUi^i OK, 

fi\MU \vj^»\t. \uuior U\o toUowinjr lil^trossinj? Viivumsianoovs: 
Hurriet OrxHHi. tho moihow who \yuj4 tho very iu\poi\<vM\niiou 
of tho mo^t liiiv iU\^i\t\uiou, suuini lluU j^W jiovo birth to tlio 
iUHVj\$r.Hl «t l^WiUou jitrvot, OlorkouwoU. \vKori\ with anot)u^r 
poor womuu who nttondod hor. slio wuj^ jvUowod to rouiaiu hv 
tho kiiuiuojij* of Mt'^i. Hhvuoh, tho huuihui\\ for six weoks. 
aUhoujih ^ho paid uo nM\t, T))0 only j^ubj^istonci^ j^ho h;ui 
duriuv: iho poriod W{U< jtupplioii by hor hu\iihuiy, and by tho 
<>xortiou5» of tho nur^io, wlio wout ubout ooUootiujj: what j^lio 
could for hor. At t)\o oxpiratiou of tho j^ix wookji sho was 
ot^mpoUod to loavo tho lodjiitiji* amidst showors of n\iu, and 
w^^uuioriHi wit)i hor infant in hor arms, in all diroinions, ut\til 
ssovon oVKvk tho foHowinsr morninsr. whon sho found horsolf 
iu lloUoway, whoro somo laboriujr pooplo, oompassiouatintf 
bt&jr eouditiou, aUowod hor to sloop iu thoir apartmont a fow 
hours, at\or whioh, horsolf and infant, who woro wrinjrinsr wot, 
had asraiu to turn out amidM tornnus of rain, and thus she 
w^indorxHl wutil ixiirht whou, arriviujy at Mr. lVraith\n\ito's, 
jjr^vor, l^itanuia r\nv. Islinjrton, ho moivifnlly took thorn in, 
aud allowed thorn to sloop in his houso that ui^tfht, Tho noxt 
moruiusr tho intrant's oyx>s woro sunk iu hor hoad, ami as she 
aypoaroii to bo dying. ^Ir. l^nvitlnvaito sent hor to Mr. Gill, 
iho parvvhial sur^roou, who sravo hor an orvior to emor the 
workhouso. On hor w*«y a woman advised hor not to go to 
that wv^rkhouso, but to St, Panorj^s workhouso. whioh sho ao- 
oorvliuiitY did. and thoro obtained an orvior to siv a modioal 
luaw, w ho could not be seeu until the follow iua: moruingr ; upon 
whioh sho renowoii hor w-andorings until nisiht. whon sho sno- 
ceedixi iu hiriujr an empty room, at 4 Mount pleasant. w*hor\\ 
huddloii in their damp rajrs, they slept ou the ln\rc boards until 
morniujr. whou. upon aw akin sr. sho fout\d hor infant dead in 
hor arms. While horsolf and intaut wandoreii iu tho streets 
th<?T had «o fi>od. awd both w^ro uearly uakoil. She (^tho 
mother'^ had not a shoe to hor toot. >lr^. Blanoh. whoso hu- 
manity was hiji'hly euloiirixoii. and Mary Fiu, the uurse. fully 
corroborated the luother^st pitiable tale. After the^ examina- 
tiou of several other witnesses the jury rinurnod the followiuir 
veniiet : * Doooasod dieii from w?\nt and exposure ; and the 
jury deem the mother r^ry culpable iu not having at oni\> 
obeyed Mr. OilFs dirtvtions to prvXH^ed to the Tslinsrton work- 
house with hor infant.' The jury highly laudoii Mr. l>raithw^\ite 
for havinsT given a shelter and a IhhI to the wretched mother 
ioid her dying offspring,'' — C>fti!<t^r"t>ef% ^/>/r^w6<*r l^h, 1S53. 



BILLY BtTCK'» VIHIT TO EMaLAMD, 421 

I {f*A tliat; in m/^rcy t^^ yori; Major, I nhouM not <»ri- 
tiriti/5 thJH hiirUxX f/ritahgrify of tJi/jj vidirm *' of an xxrwrntuX 
»o^;Ja] Hv^'.t/jrri." I will bring it t^-» a cl^///; with on/; more 



"I'OMCB ISTTBLWOBXCK. — HfdurrHij, Ijec. 31. 

Man/don JfouHe, — CaiharUta VAAm)]) and YAv/aAxiih Cairtle 
wcr^j ('AmriscA before AUhrumu JlusnphrHy with hariw;? kt/>len 
a duck. The caK^; fcx' '' .' ' -'^ht in ' of the 

alleged refu-Jil of a / to af; t,o the 

family of the forrner prj»//ner in deep dijttre^Jj, JLaw^^n, the 
beJi^iJe, of Lefi/lenhali Market, Kaid : My attention wa'< called 
by a Halenrnan to l5i;-Jiop, wIjo ha^l HUA(;n off' a JitalJ a foirl, 
whieh he ha^l rna/Je her put ba/;k. I wat/;he^l her for aboat 
ten niinuteH, and I naw ner with Cattle, and ((Alowt-A thern 
thron;rh the market, i ffineled 1 Kaw her take siom'dhinjr from 
the Htall of Mr. Gill, and in (ira/.e-church street, H'mUop {ramt^i 
a duck to CaKtle. 1 then took them into cnntody. 

William ^'layton, 52i^ : J wa-< called to take Ijhhop to the 
Htation-hoii.He. 8he wan int/>>xieat^d. At the Ktation-hooue 
«he told the innpe^.'tor Khe had four children locked up in her 
room in ljun\ihy court, Thomas street, l:{r)ck-lane, and that 
nobody wan with them, it wa-i then eleven o'clock at night, 
I waji direrrted by the in»p^^;tor to j^ee whether her Ktaternent 
waH true. Hhe jrave me the key of the room, and 1 witnessed 
a miserable }f^;ene of di^.trcKH. \yyAih\> wuh 'tXaWi to rue to be 
a woman of ba/1 chara^.'ter, and t^> Jiave been in cu-;to<ly before 
for intoxication and pilfering. I went to the relievinjr officer 
of the iiethnal Green Union, and told him that I was dirr^n^d 
by the inspector to make known t^j him that there were fonr 
poor children hx:ked up in a room, that the mother wa« in coij- 
V^dy, and, by her account, the father lia^l dcmrUnl tJie family 
for Home time. Jle told me to U;ll the in«p<^;tor that he wa» 
no policeman, and that he wa» not to be called up at that hour. 
I »ajd it wa-i an ur^rent cane, a« one of the children wan only 
eight months old. He t/>ld me if it was only eight days old, 
he would have nothing t/j do with it; that I might I^^;k them 
all up, and that he would not be bothered. I told him if he 
waH a man pOHH^.-SHcd of any feeling, he would treat the cajf<j 
differently. He a«ked me how 1 dare^i to irwult him by a re- 
mark of that kind, and that I wa-i \o. 520. 1 naid the caM? 
would be brought before the Lord Mayor, and that it would 
be my duty to make the remarks he tiad ma/le known to his 
30 • 



-422 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABrvOAD ; OR, 

lordship, lie told nio to toll tlio liord Mayor to trouhle Ida 
head about city business, and not about his. llo then sluit the 
door, juul T returned to the house where the ehildren were, 
aeeouipnnied by the inspeetor nud a woman who had int'ornied 
me about the poor family. AVheu we went into the room, in 
whieh there a]>peared to be nothing* but a broken table and a 
broken ehair, we looked about, but saw no ehildren ; but in a 
corner where appeared to be an old bedstead, we beheld a 
lump of filthy rau's. and there lay the tour ehildron last asleep. 
They were eovered with vermin. I learned from the wonuin 
who aeeompauicd me that they had no food the whole day. 
Of eourse I made the best arrauirenuMit T eould, by the diree- 
tion of the inspeetor, for the protection of the ehildren. The 
wonuui undertook to take care of them, was supplied by mo 
with money, and properly attended to them. They seized the 
bread that was put before tluMU, and voraciously devoured it. 
They are all under seven years old. 

Alderman Humphrey : Why, they miii'ht have been all dead 
in the morning*. He tluMi sentenced the prisoner to twenty-ono 
days in llolloway New' Prison, and said the poor ehildren must 
be taken to the union, and if the relieving olUeer of Bethnal 
Green refused to take eare of them, let him be sununoned to 
Worship street Police tVnirt, where he knew the magistrate 
would deal with him as he ought to be dealt with. He highly 
commended the conduct oi' the constable, and ordered his 
expenses to be paid." — OlK<crvcr, Jan. 2(/, 1854. 

In tills police report, you ^vill llnd Bcvoral ciroum- 
stauooi^ whioli j?orve to oliaracterize certain features of 
society in this country. First, tlie abandoned and gin- 
besotted mother, pilfering for the relief of her starving 
children. Then, those poor starving wretches of children, 
covered Avith vermin, and exhausted by want of food, in 
their only home, " a room, with a broken table, a broken 
chair, an old bedstead, and a bunch of tiltliy rags," for 
hours and hours, intently watching the opening of that 
locked door — the smaller ones screaming in frantic agony, 
until the friendly torpor of inanition has deadened tlio 
pangs of hunger. See hoAV they seize the dry loaf, which 
comes as a glorious vision to rouse their dimmed senses, 
and devour it like wild animals ! Next, we have the com- 
fortable ofhcial, hardened by constant contact with degra- 
dation and sullering, untouched by the report of such cir- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 423 

cumfltancGH, and indifrcrent to tho conscquonccs. And in 
contrast with him, wo observe the more benevolent and 
conHcientiouB olIicerB, wlio buBily bentir thcrnBclves in 
skinning over another of thone wounds which Bociety in 
this country is perpetually inflicting upon itbelf. 
Allow me to repeat that I am, 

Very reBjjectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To MaJ. J. JONES; 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



LETTEE XLIII. 

UNHAPPY MENTAL AND MORAL CONDITION OF A LARGP: PRO- 
PORTION OF TIIK liRITIHIi PEOPLE, AH BIIOWN BY VARIOUS 
FACTS, ESPECIALLY BY THE NUMBER OF LUNATICS AND 
INSANE PERSONS, AND OF SUICIDES. 

London, May 12th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — We have agreed that a general difFu- 
Bion of the material comforts of life among a people, and 
a similar prevalence of mental and moral enjoyment, 
afford, perhaps, the best evidence of the greatest happi- 
ness of the greatest number; that they are the surest 
signs of a nation's welfare and prosperity, and that the 
absence of them among a people must result in degrada- 
tion and suffering. 

It has been comparatively easy for us to ascertain what 
should be said of the British people as regards the pos- 
session of the first of these elements of happiness. From 
the very nature of the case, the evidence as to the other 
is more intangible, and not so patent to the senses. Still, 
when we are searching for such facts among the people 
of a nation numbering its millions of inhabitants, and 
perpetually contributiug its millions of incidents and of 
paragraphs to the history of human life, we may find it 



424 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

possible to group and generalize sucli a number of these 
facts as will enable us to approximate, at least, a solution 
of sucb an inquiry. 

The last Census Eeport (wbicli is my authority for the 
statement) shows that, when the census was taken (say in 
the year 1850), there were, in the various lunatic asy- 
lums, and other institutions for the reception of the insane 
in G-reat Britain, 18,803 persons; 8999 of whom were 
males, and 9804 females ; and that the proportion which 
the lunatics in such asylums bore to the whole population 
is as 1 in every 1115. 

Though I have endeavored to procure it, I have not 
yet been able to obtain a table or summary of idiots, 
lunatics, etc., in the several States of our Union, com- 
piled from the United States Census of 1850 ; and I have 
not time now to arrange one for myself. But I have one 
prepared from the census of 1840 ; and, as it is a propor- 
tion only which is material to this branch of the subject, 
and that is as well shown by the census of 1840, I refer 
to that for the following information : 

The total number of population, then, in Georgia, was 
691,392.* The total number of idiots and insane persons 
was 428. Of the population, 407,695 were whites, and 
283,6^7 were blacks, Of idiots and lunatics, 294 were 
whites, and 134 blacks. Thus, it appears that there was 
one idiot, or insane person, in every 1612 of the whole 
population ; or one idiot, etc., in every 1386 of the whites, 
and in every 2117 of the blacks. 

The same report shows that the whole population of 
Louisiana is 352,441; or 158,457 whites, and 193,954 
blacks ; that the whole number of idiots and insane per- 
sons was 100 ; or fifty-five whites and forty-five blacks ; 
and that, as a consequence, there is one idiot or lunatic 
in every 3524 of the whole population ; or one in every 
2881 of the white population, and one in every 4310 of 
the black population, f 

The report from the other slave States is not so 
strikingly favorable as that from Louisiana ; but you will 
see what an immense advantage over that from Great 

* «« statistical Companion," 1852, p. 137. 
t See App., H. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 425 

Britain it exhibits. By themselves, these things may not 
be considered as conclusive ; but grouped with other facts, 
they become wonderfully significant. 

In the next place, I think that we are fully authorized 
to infer that, in a country where so large a proportion of 
the population are uneducated, intellectually, morally, or 
religiously, as I have shown you is the case here, and 
where crimes, and especially crimes of great atrocity, 
abound as they have been shown, by figures and by facts, 
to abound in this nation, the prevalence of moral, reli- 
gious, or mental comfort, cannot be extensive. 

In the same connection, I may add that the same con- 
clusion is to be derived from what we have seen of the 
frequent and prevailing violations of domestic relations 
in this country, the shocking cruelties of husband to 
wife, of wife to husband, of parent to child, and of child 
to parent. It is unnecessary that I should argue, I am 
sure, that, where the domestic relations are not only not 
the sources of peace and pleasure among the homes of a 
people, but where the most savage and sanguinary out- 
rages of domestic comfort prevail, there can be no happi- 
ness. 

I refer in conclusion to one other class of facts, which 
brings us to the same result ; and that is the number and 
the character of the suicides committed in this country. 
You have but to open almost any paper that I have sent 
you, and you will find this exemplified. 

As far back as the last century, we were told by an 
English writer, that " the English have long been re- 
proached by foreigners for the frequent commission of it," 
(suicide) " and ' the gloomy month of November' has been 
stigmatized as the season when it is most common." 
This writer ascribes its prevalence, either to '' insanity or 
vicious passion." Mercier, a French gentleman, who 
wrote on the subject, in France, in 1782, ascribes its pre- 
valence there ^' to poverty and oppression." 

It is very plain to us, I think, who have been for some- 
time observing the developments of society here, and 
studying somewhat the motives and passions of this people, 
that the prevalence of suicides (of such suicides as we 
observe), is due to all the causes above assigned; viz., 
36* 



426 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

poverty, oppression, insanity, and vicious passion — it 
being understood that I use the word " oppression" in the 
sense of cruel treatment, exercised by superiors upon their 
immediate dependents, and not in a political sense. A 
few examples will elucidate the subject. I can afford 
room for a few only. 

As instances of self-destruction caused by mental dis- 
tress arising from the first of the influences above named ; 
viz., poverty, or destitution, you may take the following 
cases : and you will have no difiiculty in seeing how it is 
that this cause must aid in swelling the number of deaths 
by suicide in this kingdom : 

'' The following disclosure speaks volumes as to the trials 
endured by the poor, and the importance of affording them 
timely assistance : 

Yesterday an inquest was taken by Mr. Baker, at the Grave 
Maurice, Whitechapel road, on the body of John Green, aged 
35, carpenter, Swan-yard, Whitechapel. Deceased was em- 
ployed in the excavation of the celebrated Box Tunnel ; lat- 
terly in very great destitution. On Tuesday forenoon last, he 
was found by Mrs. Hart, his landlady, suspended by a sash- 
cord to a file which he had fixed in the wall. Life was extinct. 
He had written two letters — one to his father, and the other 
to a friend. He remarked in them — ' I am destitute of every- 
thing, you will see from the state of my room. I have the 
prospect of a dreary winter before me. Death is preferable to 
a life of misery. I have not had enough for the last month to 
keep body and soul together. Send this letter to my father, 
who will perhaps pay my debts. I have no money to pay the 
postage.' 

The presence of a good Samaritan would have saved a sinful 
soul from being thus hurried into eternity." — Observer, Dec. 
22d, 1851. 

"DISTRESSING SUICIDE IN WESTMINSTER. 

A discovery has just been made in a house in Dean street, 
Westminster, which has given rise to a most painful feeling in 
that neighborhood. About seven years ago, an engineer, 
named Stone, died, and was buried in the Broadway church- 
yard. His widow was left unprovided for, and left London to 
take a situation in Kent, where she was not successful. At 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 427 

the beginning of the present month she took lodgings in Dean 
street, Westminster. She at first objected to the rent, saying 
her only purpose for coming was to visit the grave of her hus- 
band. She went away, but returned and took one of the rooms, 
instead of two, and very little was seen of her afterwards ; the 
last occasion being when she went to the landlady to borrow a 
pen and ink, saying she wanted to write a letter. After that, 
for a week, no more was seen of her, and suspicion being ex- 
cited, the door was forced open, and she was found lying dead 
on the carpet. Mr. Heath, the surgeon of Bridge street, was 
sent for, who was of opinion that she had been dead seven or 
eight days. He found on the mantel-piece two bottles labelled 
'poison,' and upon a post mortem examination he discovered 
about an ounce of laudanum in the stomach. She had been 
in the habit for two years of going to the churchyard and 
weeping over the grave of her husband. In her room the fol- 
lowing letter was found : ' To save trouble, Mrs. Ann Stone 
came by her death by a draught of laudanum, no one knowing 
that she did take it, as she is a total stranger in the house she 
is in. Every effort she has made to obtain an honest living 
failed her. She has the presumption to throw her soul into 
the presence of the Almighty, and she fervently prays that God 
will have mercy on her soul. Good Christians, do not allow a 
number of persons to look on my unfortunate body. I have 
performed all the offices that are requisite ; the body is quite 
ready for the coffin.' She then begs that she may be buried 
in the same grave with her husband, and expressed a fear that 
the New Victoria street might destroy it. She concludes : — 
' If I could have died on my husband's grave-stone, I would 
have done so.'" — Observer, Feb. 23fZ, 1852. 

You may remember tbe case of the ladies Sharpley, 
mentioned in one of my latest letters. As an attempt at 
suicide whilst in a state of distress, both mental and 
physical, which was caused by destitution,- it is peculiarly 
suited to exemplify tbe subject we have under consider- 
ation. 

As an illustration of the suicides caused by ill-treat- 
ment, which frequently occur in this country, I direct 
your attention to the cases which are referred to in my 
letter of April 22d, 1854 ; and to the following extract : 
'^ about three months ago, a youth hung himself in his 
cell, making a third case of suicide, besides several at- 



428 TnE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

tempts at suicide, since Lieut. Austen, K. N. (tlie present 
Governor) succeeded Capt. Maclionicliie, two years ago." 

I submit to you, wlietlier or not, you have ever known 
or heard of as many cases of self-destruction by slaves in 
our country, in the whole course of your life, as were 
here committed in one prison, within a period of two 
years. Indeed, I doubt if you have ever known of a 
case of suicide committed by a slave in our state. I am 
sure I have not.* 

I must hasten on and furnish you with some examples 
of self-destruction in this country, caused by bad passions, 
insanity, and other unhappy moral influences. Here, for 
instance, is a case of suicide from ill-temper. 

''SUICIDE FROM BAD TEMPER. 

On Monday afternoon, an inquest was held before Mr. Bed- 
ford, on the body of M. W. Weymar, in the board-room of 
St. Martin's workhouse. The deceased was a bronze cutter, 
lodging at 13, Bear street, Leicester square. On Saturday 
week a dispute arose between him and his employer respecting 
9d., which deceased claimed for one hour and a half overtime. 
He was told that would be settled on Monday. He, however, 
put himself in a great passion, took away his tools, and refused 
to go to work. He continued in this state of irritation till 
Wednesday night, when he retired to his apartment. Not ap- 
pearing all next day, the door was forced, when he was found 
suspended by a handkerchief to the bed-post, dead and cold. 
He had £4 in money, and a gold watch in his pocket. Mr. 
Sinclair, his employer, said he had not discharged him, and 
would have paid him the 9d. Madame Ledreau, the landlady, 
expressed her belief that the deceased had worried himself 
about the 9d. till he lost his senses ; he was a man of most irri- 
table temper. Ycrdict, that the deceased destroyed himself 
whilst laboring nnder temporary insanity, produced by exces- 
sive irritability," — Observer, Dec. Ibth, 185L 

From one number only of a paper, I have taken the 



following : 



SUICIDES. 



Suicide in an Omnibus. — On Tuesday evening an inquest 
was held in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, before W. Payne, Esq., 

* See App. D., sec. 21, 43, 62, 78, 92, 109. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 429 

on the body of Mr. Edwin Harris, a potato salesman, of 183 
High street, Shoreditch, and who on the afternoon of Satur- 
day week was found with his throat cut in an old omnil3us on 
the premises of Mr. Sawyer, livery-stable keeper, in the Curtain 
road. 

Mr. David Harris, brother of the deceased, deposed to having 
parted with him on the morning of Thursday, the 15th inst., at 
nine o'clock, when he stated that he purposed going after some 
money, and he believed that it would yet be all right. 

By the jury : The money alluded to was to meet a trade 
debt, a bill of a large amount owing to a Dutchman. Had 
seen his brother under similar circumstances before. He was 
not more desponding than usual. Never saw him again alive. 

Mr. Sawyer, livery-stable keeper, deposed to having known 
deceased many years, and also to being present at the hospital 
when questioned as to the time when he committed the act, and 
seeing him write ' Thursday' in reply; also, subsequently, 'I 
have a wife and six children, but do not wish to see them. I 
want my waistcoat and some roasting apples. I laid in the 
cold fifty hours before any one found me.' This paper was 
produced, and read by the coroner. 

William Holland, 146 N., one of the warrant officers of Wor- 
ship street police court, produced a large clasp knife, discovered 
under the seat of the omnibus in which deceased was found 
lying, and covered with blood. Brought him to the hospital in 
a cab. The knife appeared a new one. 

Mr. David Harris re-called : Never saw the knife alluded to 
before. 

Mr. Abel, father-in-law of deceased, stated that on the pre- 
vious Wednesday evening, deceased called on him and appeared 
very desponding. Showed him a bill for £83, and said that it 
was all through the Dutchman his wife and family were ruined. 
By a juror : The bill is not yet due. On the day before I saw 
my son-in-law, who then said, ' When a man gets past sixty, 
and talks about business, he deserves the pole-axe.' 

Mr. Frederick Smith, one of the house-surgeons of Bartho- 
lomew's hospital, was examined, and stated that deceased died 
on Sunday evening at a late hour, in consequence of the prin- 
cipal branches of the carotid arteries being severed. He had 
several times rallied under the treatment to which he was sub- 
jected during the day. Yerdict, temporary insanity. 

Isle of Wight. — Distressing Suicide. — Newport has been 
visited by severe affliction in the distressing suicide of Mr. 
■Robert Bryant, the worthy landlord of the Star Inn, Newport, 



430 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

Isle of Wight. He rose as usual on Tuesday morning, and 
after giving some directions to his men about his horses, &c., 
he went up to his office. Not coming down to breakfast, nor 
answering when called, the door was forced open, when he was 
found suspended and dead. He was agent to the Isle of Wight 
and London Shipping Company, and to various other concerns 
as accountant and agent. He had the property of a great 
number of persons in his hands. His widow was unfortunate 
in her former husband, who died by his own hands. Her dis- 
tress now cannot possibly be described. This, and the heavy 
failure of one of the oldest and most respected townsmen last 
week, for a sum little short of £20,000, has thrown a gloom 
over the town which will not be soon removed. 

Suicide hy a respectable Tradesman. — On Tuesday, Mr. 
Kobert Judd, a highly respectable tradesman, who for the last 
ten or twelve years has carried on the business of a bootmaker 
at No. 9 Beak street. Golden square, committed suicide. The 
unfortunate man married a second time, about two years ago, 
having a grown-up family by his first wife, some of them fe- 
males, to whom the second marriage was very unacceptable, 
and family misunderstandings frequently arose amongst them. 
One of these grievous altercations arose on Tuesday, when the 
infatuated man rushed up stairs to the top of the house, and 
hastily opening the window of a bed-room on the third floor, he 
threw himself out of it into the street, a height of nearly forty- 
three feet. He expired almost before he could be conveyed to 
the hospital. His body was frightfully mangled. "~06seruer, 
Jan. 2Qth, 1852. 

The following case which. I have referred to under an- 
other head, as furnishing evidence of that '^vicious pas- 
sion" so common among the men of this country : viz., 
the brutal wife-butchering propensity which, we have 
before considered, with, others like it, is strongly sugges- 
tive of the fact that the number of suicides in this king- 
dom is increased by reason of the despair with which the 
minds of these women-butchers are overwhelmed, after 
they have been urged by their fierce, and devilish pas- 
sions upon the commission of those awful crimes : 

''ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE — Neivcastle— Monday. 

This morning, at the borough police court, a tailor of the 
name of Robert Knox unherwent an examination before Cap- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 431 

tain West, on the charge of attempting to murder his wife. 
It appears that the prisoner is a master tailor in the Dog-bank, 
and his wife a stay and corset maker. On Sunday morning, a 
few minutes before 1 o'clock, a quarrel, the origin of which is 
not yet known, took place between them, during which the 
man sprang out of bed, and seizing a large table-knife which 
lay near the bed, he struck it with great force into the side of 
his wife, who was standing in the room with her clothes on. 
Her shrieks aroused a neighbor of the name of Finnigan, who 
rushed into the room as speedily as possible, and found Knox 
and his wife lying upon the ground, the blood streaming 
copiously from both of them. As soon as Finnigan entered 
the room Knox drew from his side a large knife, and shouted, 
'You see I have done it myself An alarm was raised, and 
several of the neighbors came to Finnigan's assistance, whilst 
others went in search of medical men and police officers. Knox 
and his wfe were placed on chairs in the bedroom, and on the 
arrival of the police at ten minutes past one o'clock, both ap- 
peared to be in a dying state, and unable to speak. Mr, Pvayne 
and his assistant, and Mr. Henry Fife, surgeons, speedily 
an-ived and dressed their wounds, and waited in attendance 
upon them until 3 o'clock, when it was thought advisable to 
procure the attendance of a magistrate, that the depositions 
of the woman might be taken, as there appeared no proba- 
bility of her recovery. At 4 o'clock, Mr. Alderman Hodgson 
and Mr. Bulman, the magistrate's clerk, were in attendance ; 
but as the woman appeared to be then reviving, the deposi- 
tions were not taken. The prisoner had recovered earlier, and 
at 3 o'clock was taken to the Manors police station, and 
charged with attempting to murder his wife, when he replied, 
'I am sorry I did not do it effectually.' This statement he 
repeated several times, both in the presence of his wife, and 
after his arrival at the police station. Knox, v.hen brought 
before the magistrate this morning, seemed very weak from the 
loss of blood, occasioned by the wound he inflicted on himself, 
and scarcely able to stand. The wound was two or three 
inches in depth. His wife fortunately had on a very thick pair 
of stays, or she must have been killed upon the spot. The 
knife was produced in court ; it was a very long, sharp-pointed 
instrument. It had penetrated through the woman's stays, and 
about three inches into her body." — Liverpool Mercury, De- 
cember M, 1852. 

Here are a few miscellaneous cases^ wliicli I have taken 
just at random. 



432 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OE, 



"DREADFUL MURDER, AND SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. 

On Sunday night last an appalling murder was committed 
in the village of Castle Rising, near Lynn, in Norfolk, by a 
man named John Daw, aged 49, gardener to Mr. W. T. Ayre, 
of Rising Mill, who, having first murdered his wife, Honor 
Daw, aged 48, and his son, Martin Daw, aged t, then destroyed 
himself. It appeared that he had been for some days in a low 
state of mind. On Saturday afternoon he and the son watered 
the garden. On Monday morning, at half-past five, a man 
named Harrison, who was passing along the banks of Rising 
River, observed the body of a man lying in a shallow in the 
water. He procured assistance, and Daw's body was identified. 
Some of the party then proceeded to the deceased's house, in 
order to break the intelligence to his wife, and surprise was ex- 
pressed that the woman should not have missed her husband. 
On arriving at the house of Daw, however, the doors were 
found to be fastened, and after endeavoring for some time to 
awaken the inmates, they burst open the door. Here a dread- 
ful scene indeed presented itself. Upon entering the inner 
room (there being no chamber) the body of the little boy was 
found lying in a pool of blood, with the head nearly severed 
from the body. Close to the child lay the body of the mother, 
with her throat frightfully cut, so as to cause death. The room 
bore evidences of a frightful struggle having taken place ; and 
from circumstances it is supposed that Daw first attacked his 
wife whilst in bed, and her struggles awoke the child, who 
rushed and clung to his mother, the night-clothes of both being 
nearly torn to shreds. Daw was found with nothing on but 
his shirt, and not far from where his body lay was found the 
knife with which he committed the dreadful deed. There was 
a slight wound in his throat, which no doubt he inflicted whilst 
standing beside the river, and then flung himself in. 

" SUICIDES. 

'^Suicide of a Brother and Sister. — A most painful feeling 
has been excited in Burmantofts (Yorkshire) by two suicides 
in one family. Mary and Jame^ Smith were daughter and son 
of a handle-setter of Burmantofts, with whom they lived. 
Both were unmarried, and Mary was 23 years of age. She 
had for a short period been in a desponding state. On Friday, 
the 25th ult., she left her father's house without saying where 
she was going, or that she intended to stay long away. No 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 433 

tidings being heard of her, her relations (entertaining appre- 
hensions from her previous despondency) caused the river Aire 
to be dragged, and on Monday her body was found therein. 
It was conveyed to the Nag's Head Inn, Hunslet, where an 
inquest was held. There were no marks of violence upon the 
body, nor any reason to doubt that she had drowned herself in 
a moment of aberration of mind, and a verdict was returned 
of ' Found Drowned.' But the tragedy did not end there. On 
Thursday morning her brother James was found hanging in 
his father's kitchen quite dead. On Friday morning an inquest 
was held, and it appeared in evidence that the Smiths worked 
in the mills of Messrs. Booth & Co., Chorley lane. James, 
like his sister, had been in a desponding state for several weeks. 
He appeared to have been much shocked by his sister's death. 
She was interred on Wednesday. Early on Thursday morning 
Smith's father called him up to go to work. They started 
together, but on the road his father lost sight of him. It ap- 
peals that he returned home. The only person in the house 
was a younger brother, to whom he said that he was so ill that 
he could not bear the thoughts of going to work. At 6 o'clock 
the brother went to work, and the deceased was left alone. 
At 8 o'clock a neighboring woman called for the purpose of 
washing, and on entering the kitchen was horrified to find him 
suspended by the neck from a beam. She raised an immediate 
alarm, and the body was promptly cut down, but life was quite 
extinct. The hapless suicide had tied a silk kerchief round 
his neck, and with the assistance of a chair made the other 
end of the kerchief fast to a beam extending across the ceiling, 
and then completed the rash act by throwing himself off the 
chair. Constitutional despondency evidently caused the deaths 
of the brother and sister. In the brother's case a verdict was re- 
turned of * Temporary Insanity. ' " — Observer, April Idth, 1851. 

'^Suicide of a Female. — On Monday, Mr. Carter concluded 
an inquest on the body of Mary Ann Adams, found in the 
Thames, off Rotherhithe, on the 10th inst. The deceased was 
the wife of a clerk in the city, who bad absconded, after com- 
mitting extensive forgeries, leaving his wife and children help- 
less. She had been compelled to seek refuge in St. Mark's 
workhouse, but immediately before her death was residing by 
permission in the house of a friend at Old Brentford. She 
left that place for London in very low spirits, ostensibly for 
the purpose of re-entering the union with her infant, aged IT 
months. Her friends saw no more of her until called to 
37 2 c 



434 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OH, 

identify her body. Letters in the handwriting of the deceased 
were produced. In the first she says, ' I hope the Almighty 
will pardon me for the crime I have committed, but I can 
never be happy in this world, neither could I leave my infant 
behind. God grant I may be forgiven for such a rash act. I 
freely forgive my husband as I hope to be forgiven.' The next 
was as follows : ' I have preferred Waterloo Bridge for the 
act. Send to Mrs. Tappin, and don't tell Anna for the world. 
Good bye, God bless you all. I hope to be at rest with my 
poor infant. Do not shed a tear.' On a scrap of paper was 
v^^ritten in deceased's hand- writing, ' Of sorrows and troubles 
I have had my share. To leave an infant to the buffets of the 
world is a worse crime than the one I have committed.' The 
body of the child taken out by deceased, and which doubtless 
perished with her, has not been found. The jury returned a 
verdict to the effect that Mary Ann Adams committed suicide, 
being of unsound mind. 

Supposed Suicide of a County Magistrate. — On Sunday 
afternoon the body of Mr. Richard Benson Blundell, of Deys- 
brook, West Derby, near Liverpool, was found in a pond in a 
field, called Finch Farm, and on Tuesday an inquest was held 
at the Sefton Arms, West Derby, when it appeared that about 
12 o'clock he had left his house, and was supposed to have 
gone to Liverpool in the omnibus. He did not arrive at home 
as usual at night, and, soon after half-past eleven on Sunday 
morning, one of his sons saw his father's hat in a pit in an 
adjoining field. The pit was immediately dragged, and in 
about an hour and a half the body was found. It appeared to 
have been in the water some hours, Mr. Bark, surgeon, said 
that he had frequently attended the deceased, who always, in 
his presence, appeared perfectly rational. He was sometimes 
attacked with jaundice, which naturally exercised considerable 
depression upon his spirits. He was accustomed to live highly, 
and witness had entertained fears that he would some day be 
attacked with a fit. The jury returned a verdict to the effect 
that the deceased was found drowned, but how the body came 
into the water there was not sufficient evidence to prove. 

Determined Suicide by Fire-arms. — On Wednesday morn- 
ing, between 9 and 10 o'clock, the neighborhood of Golden 
lane, St. Luke's, was alarmed by the loud report of fire-arms, 
followed by successive screams from the house No. 64. Police- 
constable Steward, 6t G, on hastening to the spot, found, in a 
slaughter-house at the rear of the premises, a man lying on the 
ground with the back part of his head blown away, and a rusty 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 435 

old horse-pistol in his hand. The unfortunate man was a pork 
butcher, named Joshua Walden, 56 years of age, for a con- 
siderable time tenant of the house. Pecuniary difficulties are 
ascribed as the occasion of the rash act. 

On Wednesday, Alderman Alexander Taylor, of Oldham, 
destroyed himself by cutting his throat with a razor. Mr. 
Taylor was generally known throughout the manufacturing 
districts, having been an active Free Trader in the days of the 
Anti-Corn-Law-Leagne. He had become a violent political 
partisan at the last two elections, under circumstances which 
estranged him from many of his former friends, and this, it is 
believed, was the cause of his committing suicide." — Observer, 
March, 2Sth, 1853. 

" Distressing Suicide at Dartford. — An appalling act of 
self-destruction was committed early on Wednesday morning 
last, by a gentleman who had taken a bed at the Bull and 
George Inn, Dartford. The deceased, whose name was Henry 
Lavender Culmer, was manager for Messrs. Saunders and 
Otley, publishers, Conduit street, London. He was single, and 
34 years old. He was writing during a great part of the day, 
and went to bed at about 11 at night, having first smoked a 
cigar with Mr. Meyers, the landlord, and asked the servant to 
call him at 7. She did so, but received no answer, and her 
attention being called another way, she did not proceed to call 
him for another hour, when she went again and knocked at his 
door, but received no reply. Mr. Meyers immediately sent for 
Branden, the superintending constable, who proceeded to the 
deceased's bed-room, and finding the door locked, they burst 
it open, when a horriljle scene was disclosed. Deceased, partly 
dressed, was lying on the floor, in a pool of blood, his head 
literally severed from his body, nothing but the vertebrae sus- 
taining it. Close to his head was a razor ; a pistol recently 
discharged lay on the table, covered with blood, and also an- 
other, likewise covered with blood, loaded, but having no cap 
on. A hole was discovered beside his ear, which had received 
the contents of the pistol, but it is supposed that the first dis- 
charge not proving effective, he had taken up the second pistol, 
but could not discharge it in consequence of the cap being oif, 
and that he must then have resorted to the razor. Mr. Meyers 
instantly sent for Dr. Culhane, but life had been extinct for 
several hours. His father had committed suicide about twelve 
years ago. From the uncle of the deceased, who was also 
present, it was elicited that some family matters had preyed 



436 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

much on the deceased's mind. He had been in the habit of 
making an allowance to his mother, who, nevertheless, was 
constantly writing to him for money. There was another 
cause of trouble to the deceased. He had been engaged to a 
young lady, who had broken oif the correspondence in conse- 
quence of the frequently excited state of his mind. Deceased 
had borne an unimpeachable character, and the jury returned a 
verdict of 'Temporary insanity.' — South Eastern Gazette.''^ — 
Copied into Hull Packet, June 11th, 1853. 

"Love and Suicide. — On Thursday, Mr. Baker held an inquest 
at the George and Vulture, E,atcHffe highway, on the body of 
a fine young woman, named Eliza Hare, aged 20, who com- 
mitted suicide. The deceased was much attached to a young 
man in the Customs department. On Saturday evening she 
saw him talking to a female named Jemima Steward, in Well- 
close square, which seemed to annoy the deceased, who became 
much excited. About 1 o'clock on Sunday morning the de- 
ceased was seen to leap over the iron railing on Old Gravel 
lane Bridge, into the water of the London Docks. An alarm 
was raised, w^hen a watchman brought the drags, but the 
deceased was not found for ten minutes. Every exertion was 
made by Mr. English, a surgeon, to restore life, but all efforts 
were in vain. The deceased was to have been married on 
Sunday next, and was very respectably connected. Yerdict, 
' Temporary insanity.' 

''Melancholy and Extraordinarij Suicide. — A lady named 
Tryphena Harding, aged 36, residing at No. t, Marlborough 
terrace, Walworth road, the wife of a naval officer, committed 
suicide on Thursday, last week, by drowning herself in a water 
butt, where she was found by her servant. A singular feature 
of the case, and which shows the determination of the unhappy 
woman, is that the bath being only partially filled with water, 
she had deliberately sat down at the bottom. The deceased 
was a lady of great accomplishments and sensitiveness, and 
upon every occasion that Captain Harding was at sea displayed 
the utmost distress of mind. To make this case of a melan- 
choly character, the unfortunate lady was near her accouche- 
ment, and has left two children to deplore their loss. The jury, 
without hesitation, returned a verdict of ' Temporary insanity.' " 
— Hull Packet, June 11 th, 1853. 

"Suicide by a Clergyman. — Last week excitement was 
created in Worcester and its neighborhood, by the fact of tho 
Rev. H. J. Stevenson, vicar of Hallow (three miles from 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 437 

Worcester) and examinin,^ chaplain to the bishop of the 
diocese, having destroyed himself under circumstances of singu- 
lar determination. The reverend gentleman was one of the 
honorary canons of Worcester Cathedral, and had been 'in 
residence' last week, but, having been attacked with nervous 
excitement, his medical adviser ordered him to suspend all 
clerical duty for the present, and to return home to Hallow. 
The deceased gentleman followed this advice, and appeared to 
be getting better. On Thursday night he retired to rest with 
Mrs. Stevenson at the usual hour, and appeared in good 
spirits. About 1 o'clock he rose, as he said, for the purpose 
of taking a composing draught, and shortly afterwards Mrs. 
Stevenson heard something trickling on the floor, and, sup- 
posing he was spilling the medicine, she got out of bed and 
went to him, when she was horrified to see that her husband 
was cutting his throat with a razor. She heard him say, 'I 
don't know whether I can do it enough,' and, though she had 
seized his arm, he managed so to turn the blade as to sever at 
once the jngular vein and carotid artery, and he fell on the 
floor a corpse. All was the work of an instant, and Mrs. Ste- 
venson could do nothing more than cry for help ; but when the 
family rushed to the room they found the doors all locked. 
The key of the bedroom could not be found, and an agonizing 
suspense of nearly half an hour had to be endured while the 
village blacksmith was roused, who, on his arrival, forced open 
the door with a lever. The key was afterwards found in the 
deceased's slipper. 

" Suicide by a Gentleman of Fortune. — Mr. Wakley has 
held an inquest on John Shedden, Esq., at the deceased's private 
residence, Tavistock place, Tavistock scpiare. The deceased, 
who was a bachelor, aged 64, always enjoyed the best health 
and spirits, and never betrayed a suicidal tendency, or symptom 
of insanity, beyond a slight eccentricity of manner. Wednes- 
day evening he dined with his brother, George Shedden, Esq., 
at 6 Bedford square, when, with the exception of a slight 
bilious attack, he appeared in his usual health and spirits. 
Thursday evening he dined alone in Tavistock place, retiring 
to bed at his usual hour without evincing the slightest change 
of manner. As he did not make his appearance at the break- 
fast hour the following morning, the servant proceeded to his 
bedroom to call him, when receiving no answer to her repeated 
knockings, she became alarmed, and, calling assistance, had the 
door forced open, when she found her master suspended by a 
silk neckerchief from the cross pole of his bedstead. He was 
37* 



438 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

instantly cut down, and medical assistance procured, but life 
had been some time extinct, as it would appear that tlie un- 
fortunate gentleman hung himself soon after retiring to rest. 
He was undressed, and had been evidently in bed, as appeared 
from its disturbed state. On the dressing-table was a letter 
written by deceased to a friend, in which he spoke of his resolve 
to commit suicide to end a life of misery, and as he v/as unable 
to face his friends again. He concluded the letter by stating 
that he was compelled to commit the suicidal act. The Coro- 
ner observed that the letter was evidently the production of an 
insane brain. George Shedden, Esq., could not account for 
his brother's suicide, as his affairs were in a most prosperous 
state, and he had nothing, as far as witness was aware, to dis- 
turb his mental quietude. Several other witnesses having been 
examined, without at all clearing up the mysterious circum- 
stances that inducexl deceased to destroy himself, the jury 
returned a verdict of Insanity." — Obsej've?^, July itli, 1853. 

The most singular fact in connection with this subject 
is the number of suicides, or attempts at suicide, by chil- 
dren in England. You will find a few instances below. 

"DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE. 

At Worship street, on Friday, Caroline Townsend, a decent 
looking girl, only eleven years of age, but three or four years 
older in appearance, was charged before Mr. Hammill with at- 
tempting to drown herself in the Regent's Canal. It appeared 
that about noon, on Thursday, Mr. Thompson, who resides 
near the canal at Haggerstone, saw the prisoner from his win- 
dow hovering about the towing path in a manner that excited 
his suspicion. He therefore watched, and presently saw her 
go under the bridge, and throw herself into the water. He 
instantly hastened to the spot with a pole, and, with the as- 
sistance of another person, got her out, and conveyed her to 
the Duke of Sussex pubhc house, where she was stripped and 
laid in warm blankets, and restoratives administered, and she 
was afterwards taken to the police-station. The water under 
the bridge was at least eight feet deep, and quite out of the 
view of passengers on the road, and but for her having been 
accidentally noticed by the witness Thompson, she would no 
doubt have been drowned. On being questioned, she said that 
her grandmother, with whom she lived, had ' blowed her up,' 
and struck her for burning a hole in a slipper, and told her she 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 439 

might, if she liked, go and make a hole in th^ water, and that 
she, accordingly, went to the canal to do so. Ihe prisoner 
now assigned the same reason as before for attempting to de- 
stroy herself, adding that her grandmother had struck her the 
night before for the same offence of burning the slipper. The 
grandmother said the girl was rather perverse and mischievous, 
and had been slightly scolded and punished for injury to a pair 
of slippers, but she was never ill-used, the old lady said ; and 
it was evident, from her appearance and comfortable clothing, 
that she had been taken care of. — Mr. Hammill remanded her 
for a week." — Observer, February Sd, 1851. 

" SINGULAR MONOMANIA. 

A shocking death occurred a few days ago to a little girl, 
whose parents reside in Short-acre. For some considerable 
time the child, whose name was Sarah Aldridge, and whose 
age is twelve years, has been subject to fits, and about a fort- 
night ago she was discovered hanging by the neck from the 
chamber window. She was rescued from her fearful situation, 
and every care taken to prevent a repetition of the act, which 
was for a few days successful. Ultimately it appears that the 
poor child, who was still bent on destroying herself, obtained a 
quantity of chips, and placed them under her ])inafore, and set 
fire to them. She was perceived by some neighbors, who suc- 
ceeded in smotliering the flames which enveloped her, but she 
was so dreadfully burned, that death ultimately put an end to 
her sufferings." — Birmingham Mercury. — Copied into Ob- 
server, February 3c?, 1851. 

"SUICIDE OF A CHILD. 

On Friday an inquiry was instituted by Mr. Bedford, the 
coroner, at St. George's Hospital, as to the death of Caroline 
Hemington, aged eleven years, who had destroyed herself. 
The deceased resided with her parents at Edfield street, Not- 
tingdale. On the first of last month the deceased had the mis- 
fortune to break a small looking-glass, and she was greatly 
alarmed lest her father should chastise her for it. Upon his 
coming home he asked her why she had put her sister to bed 
so soon, and she replied, 'Because she was sleepy,' and im- 
mediately went up stairs herself. The fatlier followed shortly 
after, and found a quantity of blood by a table in the room, on 
which was lying a razor also covered with blood. As he did 



440 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

not sec his dang-liter in the room, he looked under the bed, 
and there found her bleeding- from a hxrg-e wound in the throat. 
A surgeon was sent for, who sewed it up, and she was then 
taken to the hospital In this phiee she told a younger brother 
that she meant to kill herself. Mr. Rouse, the house surgeon, 
stated that the wound was throe inclies long, and very deep. • 
It was sueh an extraordinary case for a child to commit such 
an act, that he asked her who did it, and she said herself. She 
died on Wednesday, from the etfect of the wound. The jury 
returned a verdict, ' That the deceased destroyed herself by 
cutting her throat with a razor, being at the time of unsound 
mind from fear.' ^^~0bse7^ver, March Wh, 1851. 



"suicide of a boy. 

On Saturday afternoon ISIr. Carter held an inquest at the 
Hero of Waterloo, Waterloo-road, on the body of Morris 
Prankford, aged iifteen, whose body was found in the Thames. 
The evidence went to show that the deceased was apprenticed 
to a cigar maker, named Jonas, in Holborn. He was last 
seen alive on the evening of tlie sixth of the present month, 
and the body was taken out of the river on Wednesday last. 
The belief was that the treatment he, in common with other 
apprentices at the establishment named, had received, had in- 
duced him to commit suicide. — A verdict of ' Temporary In- 
sanity' was recorded." — Observer, May 26th, 1853. 

"SINGULAR SUICIDE BY CHILDREN. 

A few days ago, a lad, named Henry Havill, aged twelve 
years, son of an agricultural laborer, residing at Rockbeare, 
in Devonshire, was found hanging to the bough of an elm tree 
quite dead. He left his father's cottage in good health and 
spirits, taking with him his food for the day. The night passed 
over, but the" lad did not return. On going- to the field where 
he had been at work, the boy was found hanging to the bough 
of a tree by his handkerchief. There were no marks of violence 
on him, and there can be no doubt that he had committed 
self-destruction. No one could assign any reason for the rash 
act, as he had not evinced any distress of mind, and was in 
good health and spirits when seen at his work. A few months 
ago, however, his brother also committed suicide in the same 
way, and it is thought that this produced a morbid effect upon 
his mind.'"— Hull Packet, June llth, 1853. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 441 

The cause which urged some of these children to destroy 
themselves is apparent. It is still the story of brutality-^ 
cruelty on the part of their immediate superiors, or fear 
of such treatment. And it serves to throw a flood of light 
upon this painful subject. 

Such facts will appear most remarkable to you, I am 
sure ; for I suppose such a thing as suicide by a child of 
tender years was never heard of in our Southern States. 

I will not continue this subject. I feel persuaded that 
enough has been said and shown to satisfy you or any 
other reasonable man, that the inhabitants of this king- 
dom, regarded as a whole, are as unhappy as I have shown 
them to be immoral, cruel, and bloodthirsty. 
I subscribe myself again, 
Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 
To Mat. J. Jones, P. Jones. 

Pineville, Georgia, U. S. of America. 



LETTER XLIV. 

CAUSES OP THE SUFFERING AMONG THE BRITISH PEOPLE 
CONSIDERED, IN A CONVERSATION BETWEEN DR. JONES AND 
AN ENGLISH NOBLEMAN. 

London, May 16th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — You may remember that I mentioned 

having met a Lord B. at A Hall, upon the occasion 

of my first visit to that place. With this gentleman I have 
frequently interchanged visits since that time, and the 
acquaintance then made has ripened into something like 
intimacy. His lordship has professed himself much inte- 
rested in learning what he might from my servant and 
myself of our peculiar institution (as we call it) in the 
Southern States ; and this, I presume, is what has brought 
him to visit me, and to encourage my visits to himself, as 
he has done. In our various interviews, we have dis- 



442 THE SLAVEHOLDPm ABROAD; OR, 

cussed this subjoot iVooly, and, whilst doing so, I have, 
from time to liuio, remarked upon those features of 
EngHsh society, and many of those facts which I have 
been bringing to your attention ; and I have endeavored, 
in such conversations, to contrast them with society and 
its developments in our Southern States. 

We have just concluded an interview, in which I sub- 
mitted to him, at his instance, my opinion as to the causes 
to which the great prevalence of social sulfering, which I 
have observed in this country, chiefly owes its origin. I 
have thought it. probable that, after what I had written 
to you on this subject, there was much in this conversa- 
tion which would interest you; and as the subject-matter 
is but a step in advance of the point to which I had pro- 
c:ressed in mv last letter to you. I will i^ive vou the benefit 
of that conversation. 

''At our last conversation," said Lord B., ''we were 
interrupted when you were about to state your views as 
to the causes of that extraordinary amount of sutfering 
which (as I do not deny), you have shown to prevail among 
a large proportion of the people in this country. If you 
have no objection, I should like to hear all that you have 
to say on that subject. If I am not mistaken, 3^ou had 
remarked that the unhappy condition of such large masses 
of our people, in your opinion, was owing to a natural 
fierceness of temper, to an unequal distribution of the 
property of the country, and to oppressive taxation." 

2fi/sclf, " You are right, sir. Such is my opinion ; 
and I shall have no diificulty in sustaining it by facts, I 
believe. I think I have already mentioned a sufiicient 
number of these facts to satisfy you as to the existence of 
that vicious and vindictive temper, and its influence in 
adding to the list of atrocious crimes throughout the land, 
and I do not understand you to deny the correctness of 
my facts, or the inferences I have derived from them. I 
believe I have with equal plainness indicated how it is 
that this vice is incessantly productive of outrages upon 
the social and domestic relations of the people, and as a 
consequence upon their happiness." 

Lord 23. "For the sake of this conversation, at least, 
let that be conceded." 



BILLY buck's visit TO KNGLAND. 443 

Mynelf. " In that event, it only remains for mc to call 
your attention to a number of facts, Bufficient to su.stain 
the other memberH of the proposition, an I have stated it. 
I remark then, first, that by reason of those peculiar fea- 
tures in the constitution of Great Britain, which makes it 
a government of King, Lords, and Commons; and of her 
social polity, which maintains a legal distinction of classes, 
and for this purpose favors entails, primogeniture, and 
the other appliances necessary to the retention and accu- 
mulation of property in the same family, it follows, as a 
matter of course, that a very large proportion of the pro- 
perty of the country (and especially the real estate) is 
abstracted or withdrawn from the ordinary circuit of trade 
and commerce, where, otherwise, it might minister to the 
gratification of the many, and is more or less restrained 
to the enjoyment of the (comparatively) few. We are 
told in 'Bo wen's Political Economy,' and your Lordship 
can easily set me right, I suppose, if there is error here, 
that ' the inequality in the distribution of wealth in Eng- 
land is greater than in any other civilized nation ; and 
her nobility and gentry are wealthier, more intelligent, 
more highly cultivated, more influential, and more secure 
in the possession of their power and property than the 
corresponding classes now existing, or that ever have 
existed, in any country in the world. Five noblemen, the 
Marquis of Breadalbane, the Dukes of Argyle, Athol, 
Sutherland, and Buccleugh, own perhaps one-fourth of 
Scotland. I have already quoted the assertion of M, de 
Lavergne, that 2000 proprietors possess among them one- 
third of the land and total revenue of the three kingdoms 
of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is admitted that 
up to 1848, there were not more than 5000 Scotch and 
8000 Irish land-owners; and good reasons have been 
adduced for the opinion that there are only 46,000 who 
should be classed as landed proprietors in England. About 
60,000 families, then, own all the territory which is occu- 
pied by over twenty-seven millions of inhabitants.' These 
facts serve to show how large a proportion of the wealth 
of this kingdom is thus withdrawn from the enjoyment 
of the great mass of the people." 



444 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOjiD ; OE, 

Lord B, '' This statement applies only to property in 
tlie land." 

Myself. ^' True ; and the land witli its appurtenances 
constitutes a large proportion of the nation's wealth. But 
it is quite evident that the long-continued enjoyment of 
real estate, with its accumulations by the same family, 
must enable that family to invest more or less of their 
means in personal property, which, though not subject to 
the same sort of legal restraint, must continue to a greater 
or less degree to be attached to the land, or to revolve 
about it, as it were, and be transmitted with it ; and thus 
become subject to a somewhat similar exclusiveness of 
appropriation. When this is considered, it will be per- 
ceived that the amount of wealth thus to a great extent 
withdrawn from the enjoyment of the many, and exclu- 
sively assigned to the few, is enormous." 

Lord B. '^ But is this property thus withdrawn from 
the enjoyment of the many ? Schiller tells us : — 

'9Btc bccb cm ctnsigcr JKcicbcr fc 93ett(er in 9?Qf)rung, 
(St'gt! SBcnn tic jtonig Oaun fjaOcn bic ildrrncr 311 tfjun !' 

Perhaps you do not understand German, Doctor ?" 

Myself. " I have learned to read it a little since I have 

been in Europe, but I cannot speak it." 

Lord B. "A free translation might be rendered thus : 

* How, one rich man finds many beggars bread ! 
And when kings build, the carters sure are fed.'" 

Myself. '' Your lordship must pardon me for saying 
that there is more of poetry than political economy in that 
couplet. It is certainly well in every country that the 
rich should feed deserving beggars. But it is surely 
better that there should be no beggars to feed. Again, it 
is well that the sovereign should employ the carter when 
he builds, and thus afford bread to the latter. But it cer- 
tainly is better that the carter should not be dependent 
upon the king's plans for building, in order that he may 
secure a livelihood. And if it should be made to appear 
that the undue wealth of the rich, causes the poverty of 
the beggar ; and that the abstraction of wealth from the 
general property of the people, in order to support the 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 445 

king and his family, prevents others from building, and 
thus throws the carter out of a certain and steady employ- 
ment, why, then the sentiment of the German poet is no 
reply to the proposition I have had the honor of submit- 
ting for your consideration. You will please to observe, 
too, that my remark was, that this enormous wealth was 
to a great extent withdrawn from the enjoyment of the 
people generally. Of course I did not mean to deny that 
more or less of it, especially the income, must pass into 
the hands of those who are employed to serve the owner. 
Still the fact remains, that the great body of this wealth, 
by reason of the laws, by virtue of which it is held as pro- 
perty, is fettered in its circulation, so that it may con- 
tinue to accumulate in the owner's family." 

Lord B. ''I must acknowledge that there is truth in 
your observations." 

Myself. " If this be admitted, it appears to me very 
easy to see (without reference now to other causes) that 
the difficulty of earning a subsistence is increased for the 
laboring classes (to say the least of it) very greatly in this 
country, by this state of facts. But if we look only to the 
fact that so large a proportion of the real estate of the 
kingdom is thus locked up in the possession of a few fami- 
lies, and that the difficulty to the farmer, the laborer, or 
the artisan, of procuring an interest in and a fixed home 
on the soil, is thereby greatly enhanced, it is easy to per- 
ceive that this class of people have not the incentives to 
effort, which stimulate persons in similar condition of life, 
elsewhere. Notwithstanding all they can do, they may 
feel that the chances are that they must remain but 
tenants or hired workmen, without those aspirations, 
those cheering and exciting motives, which nerve the 
laboring classes in other countries. Under such a state 
of things, it is not surprising that many should grow weary 
in the race of life (especially if meeting with some unex- 
pected misfortune), droop, give up the struggle, and fall 
into the class of paupers or vagabonds — or worse still, 
into that of thieves and outcasts. 

But this is not the worst that is to be said upon this 
subject. There are causes still more powerfully operating 
to grind the faces of the poor in this country, and still 
38 



446 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

more extensively acting to deprive tliem of the opportu- 
nity of acquiring property, or even the means of subsist- 
ence. These grow out of the taxation — and this, again, 
has its origin in the immense expenditure which is neces- 
sary to pay the interest on the pubhc debt, and to sustain 
the artificial system of society which we have been con- 
templating. 

Look, for example, to any statement of the finances of 
your country. I will repeat from a pamphlet, published 
a year or two since, by Ridgway in Piccadilly, and enti- 
tled ' The Finances and Trade of the United Kingdon at 
the beginning of the year 1852.' By this it appears, that 
the net income of the State at this time was fifty-two 
millions sterling. But of this, to begin with, no less a 
sum than twenty-eight millions is impounded for the in- 
terest of the debt, and the charges consequent thereon. 
The expenditure for the year 1851 was forty-nine mil- 
lions and a half — leaving a surplus of two millions arid a 
half in reduction of taxation and in liquidation of debt. 
One of the first items is that of the Civil List. This con- 
sists of £385,000, out of which sum are defrayed the 
expenses of her Majesty's household and Privy Purse, the 
salaries and retired allowances of the ofiicers of the house- 
hold, the royal bounty, alms, &c. This sum, together 
with £12,730 paid as Civil List pensions to persons who- 
have rendered personal service to the Crown, or performed 
public duties, or who have been distinguished by their 
useful discoveries in science, and their attainments in 
literature and the arts, made up the sum of £397,730. 

The next item is 'Annuities and Pensions for Civil, 
Naval, Military, and Judicial Services,' &c., amounting 
to £378,341. 

The next two items, ' Salaries and Allowances,' and 
' Diplomatic Salaries and Pensions,' consist of the salaries 
of certain ofiicers (such as the Speaker and ofiicers of the 
House of Commons, the Commissioners of Audit, the 
Comptroller- G-eneral of the Exchequer, &c.), and also the 
salaries and expenses of the diplomatic service. 

By what I have stated, your Lordship will perceive, 
that nearly two millions of dollars were, in this year, ap- 
propriated to the expenses of Her Majesty's Household 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 447 

and privy purse, royal bounty, alms, &c. In the month 
of June, 1852, as I. see by the Observer of June 7th, 1852, 
the House of Commons voted £113,476, or $567,380 for 
maintaining royal palaces and buildings ; and for royal 
parks and pleasure gardens, the sum of $302,730. By 
an issue of the same paper, dated September 20th, 1852, 
I find that it had been determined to build a new palace 
for the Queen at Balmoral, which was estimated to cost 
from £80 to £100, or about half a million of dollars 
more. 

Will your Lordship assist me in the eifort to ascertain 
some of the details comprised in one or two of the general 
items to which I have referred ? That for example en- 
titled ' Salaries and Allowances ! ' What is the Salary of 
the First Lord of the Treasury?" 

Lord B. " Five thousand pounds, and official resi- 
dence." 

Mijself. ''And what of the other officers of the cabi- 
net?" 

Lord B. '' The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secre- 
taries of State, for the Home, Foreign, and Colonial 
Departments, each receive £5000, the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer having an official residence; the First Lord 
of the Admiralty has £4500, with official residence; 
the Lord Chancellor has £10,000; the Chancellor of 
the Duchy of Lancaster has £4000 ; the President of 
the Board of Control £3500 ; the Lord President of the 
Council, Privy Seal, Chief Commissioner of Woods, &c., 
and President of the Board of Trade, have £2000 each ; 
and the Postmaster-General £2500. These constitute the 
Cabinet. There are in the government, besides these, the 
Commander of the Forces, who receives £3460 ; the Secre- 
tary at War, Joint Secretary of the Treasury, who receive 
£2500 each ; the Attorney-General, who receives £5500 ; 
Solicitor-General, who gets £2580 ; the Lord Lieutenant 
of Ireland, who receives £20,000 ; and the Chief Secre- 
tary of Ireland, who gets £5500." 

Myself. '' I presume, sir, you know that the heads of 
departments in our general government receive only 
$6000. The heads of departments in your government, 
therefore, receive five times as much for their services, as 



448 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

ours — and quite as mucli as tlie head of our government, 
the President of the United States. Your Attorney- 
General receives very considerably more than the Presi- 
dent of the United States ; and the Lord Lieut, of Ire- 
land just double as much. The Master of the Polls has 
a salary almost equal to the Chancellor, does he not? 
And the Vice Chancellors have large salaries too !" 

Lord B. " The Master has £7000; and the Vice Chan- 
cellors £6000 each." 

Myself. " What is the salary of your other Judges ?" 

Lord B. " The Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench re- 
ceives £8000; the puisne judges £5500. The Chief Jus- 
tice of the Court of Common Pleas, and the Chief Baron 
of the Exchequer receive £7000 each ; and the puisne 
judges £5500. Li Scotland the Lords President receive 
£4800; and the Judges £3000 each. Li Ireland the 
Chancellor gets £8000; the Master of the Polls £4300; 
the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench £5074 ; the puisne 
judges £3688 ; the Chief Justices of the Common Pleas, 
and of the Exchequer, receive £4615 each; and the 
puisnes £3688 each." 

Myself. '' I am obliged to your Lordship for this in- 
formation. It shows that the Chief Justice of your Court 
of Queen's Bench receives just eight times as much for 
his services, as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
of the United States. And your puisne judges receive 
more than five times the sum received by the Associate 
Justices in the United States. Even in Scotland and Ire- 
land the judges receive more than three times the salary 
paid to Associate Justices of the Supreme Court in the 
United States. Your officers of almost every other kind 
are paid in very much the same proportion, I believe. 
And then there are your pensions and sinecures. Your 
retiring ministers of state all receive pensions, I believe. 
Will you be so good as to mention the amount of some of 
these ?" 

Lord B. " The First Lord of the Treasury, and all 
other members of the Cabinet, receive a retiring allow- 
ance of £2000 each; the Irish Secretary, and Secretary 
at War, £1400 each ; the Joint Secretary of the Trea- 
sury, Eirst Secretary of the Admiralty, and Vice Presi- 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 449 

dent of the Board of Trade, have a pension of £1200 
each." 

Myself. '^ I have referred to your sinecures. There are 
of these, which are supported from the public revenues, 
as well as from fees of office. Of the first, you may take 
as a specimen, the appointments of Colonels to the various 
regiments. These may be excused, perhaps you are pre- 
pared to say, on the ground, that they are intended to be 
the rewards of veteran service. This might be satisfac- 
tory, if they really were so. But it was only during the 
course of the last year, that the Times took the Govern- 
ment to task for conferring^ the two most distino'uished 
of these, having an allowance, the one of £3000, and the 
other of £2000, upon Prince Albert, and the Duke of 
Cambridge. Of the second sort of sinecure, you have an 
example, in the case of Mr. Moore, to which the Times 
■called the attention of the public, a year or two since. 
According to the Times, that gentleman was in the receipt 
of £9000, fees of office, as Registrar of the Prerogative 
Court of Canterbury, when the services were entirely, or 
almost entirely performed by others. In addition, I re- 
member that the Times stated, that there was paid £1500 
to each of three deputy registrars, and ample payment to 
the clerks of seats, all nominated by the registrar, and 
well paid for doing little more than nothing. That paper 
then passed from what it called the ' aristocracy' of the 
office, to the ' rabble,' who, as it asserted, ' do all the real 
work, and get little of the real pay.' " 

These are very good illustrations of the manner in 
which the St. James of your social system is enabled to 
monopolize the resources, and the wealth of the nation, 
and thus to force the St. Giles into beggary, starvation, 
or crime. Is it any wonder, therefore, that we find your 
men of thought sometimes exclaiming, as does Southey ! 
— " We talk of the liberty of the English, and they talk 
of their own liberty ; but there is no liberty in England 
for the poor." Nor is it any wonder, in view of such 
unjust social provisions, that so many of these poor should 
be, as he describes them; viz., ''deprived in childhood of 
all instruction and all enjoyment; of the sports in which 
childhood instinctively indulges ; of fresh air by day, and 
38* 2d 



450 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OE, 

natural sleep by night. Their health, physical and moral, 
is alike destroyed ; they die of diseases induced by unre- 
mitting task-work, by confinement in the impure atmos- 
phere of crowded rooms — or they live to grow up with- 
out decency, without comfort, and without hope, without 
morals, without religion, and without shame; and bring 
forth slaves like themselves to tread in the same path of 
misery." 

Lord B. " Undoubtedly, our public debt is a very large 
one, and our government is costly. But you must admit 
that the abolition of the corn-laws, and the tax upon in- 
come tend very much to adjust the taxation necessary 
to sustain this expensive system upon something of an 
equitable basis." 

Myself. ^'1 am not qualified, my lord, to discuss these 
political questions with you. But I find your press com- 
plaining, that your tariff of taxation is, by no means,- 
adjusted, with reference to 'the comforts of the poor/ 
and insisting that St. Giles gets the worst of it here, as 
in so many other ways. Take, for example, the follow- 
-ing Avhich I clipped from the Weekly Dispatch, of Febru- 
ary 6th, 1853. 

'' The Duties on Butter, Cheese, Eggs, &c. — In one of the 
best of his free trade speeches, Sir Robert Peel said that it 
was his object, in the new commercial policy which he sup- 
ported, to make living cheap in England It 

is strange that since the death of the great statesman, no 
earnest attempt should have been made to rid our tariif of the 
many remaining duties upon articles of necessity and comfort 
which still disfigure it. Take as an example the duties upon 
butter, cheese, eggs, &c. The duty upon butter imported 
from foreign ports is 10s. the hundred weight, or a liitle more 
than one penny per pound. Cheese pays 5s. per cwt., or a 
fraction above a half-penny per pound. Eggs pay lOd. per 
120, and 5 per cent, upon the value, making about lO^d. the 
hundred. Poultry pays 5 per cent, upon its value. Now, all 
these are strictly protecting duties ; that is to say, they are 
imposed, not so much to increase the income of the country, 
as to keep up the market price of the articles at home for the 
benefit of farmers. The quantity of butter imported from 
foreign places, in 1852, was 354,218 cwts., producing a duty 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 451 

amounting; to £16t,418. Eg,2:s were imported to the number 
of 115,526,225, paying duty amounting to £42.149. The 
quantity of cheese was 338,988 cwts., paying £83 872. The 
poultry imported only amounted in value to £31,523, paying 
duty £1657. Now, with the exception of poultry, it w'U he 
seen that all these articles upon which heavy protecting duties 
are still levied, are articles of the first necessity, and consumed 
in largest amount by the working classes. To tax butter is 
to make the careful mother sparing in the use of that nutritious 
article upon the bread of her children. To tax cheese is to 
make the working man pay duty for his principal meal — for 
bread and cheese too frequently constitute his dinner. The 
duty upon eggs is enormous, and the number consumed shows 
how important they are to the subsistence of the working 
people. The price of eggs fluctuates in the market, during 
the summer, between 3s. 6d. and 5s, 6d. the hundred — so that 
the duty is often 25 per cent, upon the value. At particular 
seasons, it is true, eggs sell at a higher price, but they rarely 
reach 10s. per 100 for more than a fortnight together at any 
time of the year. Foreign eggs are mostly sold in poor neigh- 
borhoods, and the consumption of them is mostly amongst 
poor families. When one reflects how often an i^g^j; and a cup 
of tea are the scanty meal of poor women in humble life, one 
cannot help feeling indignant that a duty of 25 per cent, 
should be levied upon this kind of food, upon the pretence 
that it is necessary to maintain the incomes of rich squires and 
fat farmers." 



Whilst upon the subject of taxation, I will mention 
that according to Maltebrun's Geography, the average 
amount contributed, by the people, to the revenue in Eng- 
land, was then $16 '28 each. In the British Empire, in 
Europe, it was $11*28. This calculation was made some 
years ago ; but I presume it does not vary very much 
from the state of facts, as they now exist. If we take 
the amount which has been specified, as the nett income of 
the United Kingdom for 1851, viz., 52 millions of pounds 
sterling, subtract therefrom the sum of £563,453 8s. 8d. 
which I find were receipts from other sources than cus- 
toms, or taxation, and then add what had been subtracted 
from the gross revenue, in the shape of charges, &c., for 
collection (less, of course, the charges upon the same of 



452 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD; OR, 

£563,453 8s. 8d.), and divide tliis sum by 21,000,000 (as 
the sum of the population of the United Kingdom on the 
21st of March, 1851), we will obtain nearly the same 
result as Maltebrun.* 

If, for the sake of the contrast, we would ascertain the 
average amount of taxation paid by each citizen of the 
State of Georgia, we may pursue a similar course — take 
the revenue of the United States derived from taxation, 
divide it by the population, and add to it the taxation by 
the State of Georgia obtained in a similar way. Thus I 
find that the revenue of the United States derived by tax- 
ation was $49,017,567 "92 (According to the American 
Almanac for 1853, and the Report of the Secretary of the 
Treasury), for the year ending June 30th, 1851. By the 
census of 1850, the population of the United States was 
shown to be 23,191,876. Assuming it, in round numbers, 
as 23,000,000, and dividing the amount of revenue above 
stated by this sum, we have a result of $2*17 J. An alma- 
nac for 1851, printed in Georgia, informs me that the sum 
total of the tax-digest of that State for the year 1849 
was $320,090*03. Divide this by the number of the 
population which the census report exhibits about that 
time, — viz., 905,999,t — and we have the sum of thirty- 
five cents, and a very small fraction over. If it be more 
accurate to exclude the slave population, we will do so, 
and divide the amount on the tax-digest by the free white 
population : viz., 524,318. We thus obtain a result of 
sixty- two cents nine mills, — say sixty- three cents, — as 
the average amount of taxation then paid by each tax- 
payer in Georgia. This, added to $2*17J, will give us 
$2 "80 as the average amount of taxation paid by each 
citizen of Georgia to his Government at this period. If 
the slaves be excluded from the divisor in the first calcu- 
lation above stated, the result will be slightly increased. 
But this statement is near enough for all practical pur- 
poses of comparison." 

* The "Statistical Companion" for 1852 (to which I have several 
times previously referred) states the population of England, Wales, Scot- 
land, Ireland, and the other islands of the British seas, to have been 
20,936,468, on March 31st, 1851. The "Observer" newspaper, pub- 
lished a short time since, gives it as 21,121,967. I assume it, in round 
numbers, as 21,000,000. 

f "Statistical Companion," 1852, p. 137. 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 453 

I find, Major, that I cannot give you all of tlie conver- 
sation between Lord B. and myself, upon this occasion, 
in one letter, without trespassing too much upon my time 
and your patience. I therefore close this, with the as- 
surance that I am, as ever. 

Respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 
To Maj. J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga.; U. S. of America. 



LETTER XLVI. 

CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN DR. JONES 
AND AN ENGLISH NOBLEMAN — "LET US HEAR THE CON- 
CLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER.^' 

London, May 18th, 1854. 

Dear Major : — I expect to turn my face homewards 
some time during the next week ; and my heart is bound- 
ing with the joyful thought that I shall probably be with 
you early in the next month. Before I sail, however, I 
must finish the account of the conversation which I was 
reporting to you in my last letter. 

After the remarks there stated, I went on to say, " In 
the next place, I invite your lordship's attention to the 
fact, that these are not the only taxes which the inhabitant 
of Grreat Britain pays. In other ways he is highly taxed 
— in one, especially, which impresses a citizen of my 
country very unfavorably. That is, the price which is 
paid for the administration of justice in your courts. 

The amount of fees which, as I have shown, are paid 
to the sinecure officers in the Pvegistrar's ofiice of the Pre- 
rogative Court, affords an indicaticgi of the contribution 
which is levied on all the property of the kingdom, which 
must pass through the courts for the purposes of admin- 
istration or distribution. 



454 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OR, 

If we turn to tlie Court of Chancery, we shall find the 
evils there so immense as to excite the reprobation of all 
who understand them, except such as are interested in 
maintaining the system. The extracts which I am about 
to read to you embody these evils in a condensed form. 

'evils of the chancery system. 

An interesting lecture was given by Mr. W. Carpenter, on 
Wednesday, in the Lecture Hall, Greenwich, on Chancery 
reform. 

Lord Erskine, on taking the chair, said the abuses in the 
court were so notorious that he would not waste time by dilating 
on them. Chancery reform was no less needed than had been 
slavery abolition, the Reform Bill, or even Catholic Emancipa- 
tion [hear]. 

Mr. Carpenter said it was the theoretic right of every 
Englishman to have cheap law ; yet the exactions in the highest 
court in the kingdom were so enormous a,s to have become pro- 
verbial in the mouths of men. The instances were not few in 
which the atrocious intolerable abuses of the Court of Chancery 
in this kingdom — the instances were not few in which the 
atrocious system pursued in their courts of equity had sent 
men to the workhouse or the lunatic asylum, and left families 
exposed to all the horrors of starvation. It was vile and flagi- 
tious wickedness — an abomination to every honest man — and a 
disgrace to the country which tolerated it [hear]. The pro- 
perty which was locked up in the Court of Chancery, through 
which all this evil was consummated, amounted to the enormous 
sum of £200,000,000. It was utterly impossible to portray in 
their proper colors the hideous wrong and misery inflicted by 
this system of dispensing justice and equity to the people of 
this country. But in order to enable his hearers to form some 
faint idea of the enormity of wrong perpetrated, he would, as 
the best and most satisfactory mode of giving them a notion on 
the subject, state the details of one or two cases. Mr. Car- 
penter then referred to the case of Mr. R. Mill, who died in 
1841, leaving £12,000 as a charitable fund, the dividends of 
which were to be applied to the augmentation of small curacies, 
into the details of which he entered with much minuteness. In 
one part of tliat case jio less than twelve counsel were em- 
ployed, each holding a brief of thirty-six sheets in his hand, 
and the question to be decided was, whether the receiver was 
to be allowed some £40 or £50 or it may be £100 a year. The 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 455 

question, however, was not yet determined, for it was referred 
three years ago to the Master to make a report, and up to the 
present time no report had been made. No less than £2000 
could have been expended in the contest on this little point, 
which, however, is not decided yet. If things went on in their 
present course, it would probably be left to some future gene- 
ration to learn the conclusion of this case, in which property to 
a very large amount was involved. Another case of a similar 
kind was that of O'Neil v. Lucas. The suit was commenced 
in 1836, and was instituted to compel the payment of £ltOO, 
of which the plaintiffs, who were children, had been deprived 
by their trustee. What must they think of the Court of 
Chancery, when the costs in this, as one would imagine, very 
plain case, amounted to £3286 ; and, still more than this, when 
an order was made for levying these costs off the estate of the 
children [cries of shame] ? There were other points in the 
same case which he would not then enter into, but it was pro- 
bable that the replacement of this £1700 would entail costs to 
the enormous amount of £13,000 [shame]. Was it to be 
wondered at that such a system plundered property, broke 
men's peace of mind, scattered families, blasted their hopes 
and prospects, and drove the object of its solicitude to suicide 
or insanity ? 

A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meet- 
ing separated.' — Observe?^ December 2Sd, 1850. 



COURT OF CHANCERY. 

To the common apprehension of every Englishman the Court 
of Chancery is a name of terror, a devouring gulf, a den whence 
no footsteps return. Ask why such a family was ruined, why 
the representatives of a wealthy man are wanderers over the 
face of the earth ; why the butlers, and housekeepers, and gar- 
deners of the kindest master in the world, in spite of ample 
legacies in his will, are rotting on parish pay ; why the best 
house in the street is falling to decay, its windows all broken, 
and its very doors disappearing ; why such a one drowned 
himself, and another is disgraced — you are just as likely as not 
to hear that a Chancery suit is at the bottom of it. There is 
no word so terrible to an Englishman as this. An honest, in- 
dustrious man, accustomed to hard thrift and slow accumula- 
tion, building his fortune course after ourse, and indulging in 
visions of futurity to compensate for much present self-denial, 
will turn pale and sick at heart at the bare mention of Chan- 



456 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABBOAD ; OE, 

eery. A suit in that court is endless, bottomless, and insatia- 
ble. Common notions of justice and law become childish 
follies before the inscrutable mystery of a Chancery suit. Such 
is the ancient court which our Premier ventures to threaten 
with innovation — a court which, in the estimation of most 
Englishmen, and with a view to a large proportion of its actual 
results, is an organized iniquity, an incurable evil, an inveterate 
wrong.'" — The Times, March, 1851. 

Lord B. '' My dear sir, I shall not deny that the Court 
of Chancery is obnoxious to many of these charges ; but 
does it not strike you, that, in stating their cases, these 
gentlemen bave not been able to resist the temptation 
whicb the opportunity afforded of a little figurative de- 
clamation ? and that, as you say in America, they ' have 
piled up the agony ' somewhat ?" 

Myself. '^ For example, in what respect, my lord?" 

Lord B. " For example, the Chancellor's /e^o-c^e-se vic- 
tims, Doctor." 

Myself. ^' Indeed you have overlooked facts, if you sup- 
pose so ; as the following extract, taken from the ' Ob- 
server ' of February 23d, 1852, must convince you : 

SUICIDE FROM A DREAD OE A CHANCERY SUIT. 

On Monday last, an opulent and highly respected man, Thos. 
Bath, Esq., of Northover,'near Glastonbury, Somerset, com- 
mitted self-destruction by drowning himself a few hundred 
yards from his own mansion. It appears that some few months 
since, Robert Phippen, Esq., of Badgworth Court, a magis- 
trate of the county, who had also served the office of high 
sheriff, died at an advanced age, supposed (though, as it has 
turned out, erroneously) to be enormously rich. To this gen- 
tleman's affairs, as well as those of two maiden ladies named 
Batt, who died wealthy at Mark, near Blackford, the deceased 
had been left executor. Differences, however, unhappily arose 
in the administration of the affairs amongst the members of the 
respective faraihes, and the business of one estate, if not both, 
was at length consigned to Chancery, very much to the annoy- 
ance and discomfiture of poor Mr. Bath, who entertained an 
instinctive dread of htigation. Hence the proceedings taken 
in the matter preyed heavily on his mind, and led to the event 
so much deplored by his family and friends.' 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 457 

Oppression in the Bankruptcy and Insolvent Courts, 
from exorbitant taxation of costs and fees, is also very 
great, according to the two extracts which I hold in my 
hand, from the ^' Observer " of March 8th, 1852, and 
January 27th, 1853; to which I refer your lordship. 
And, if Lord Brougham is to be credited, in a statement 
made, during the month of April last, to the House of 
Lords, the costs in your county courts are in like manner 
excessive and oppressive." 

Lord B. '' What you have said and read in this con- 
nection, I grieve to say, is probably correct. But I hope 
that the day of reform as to some of these matters is not 
far distant." 

Myself. '' Sufficient for the purpose which I have in 
view, is the fact that such evils now exist, as I will pre- 
sently more particularly explain. 

Before doing so, however, I desire to mention one other 
enormous evil, which constitutes a part of the system, or 
is intimately associated with the unequal distribution of 
the resources of this country. That is, the excessively 
unjust adjustment of your ecclesiastical revenues and 
patronage ; by reason of which, the higher orders of your 
clergy are surfeited with riches, whilst the lower are 
sometimes almost reduced to beggary. Your bishops and 
other dignitaries are so exorbitantly paid, as to increase, 
in a similar way to that I have* already suggested with 
respect to' another privileged class, the difficulties of sub- 
sistence to the poor generally. 

It was not long since (that is to say, some time during 
the year 1852), that I- heard Sir B. Hall state, in his place 
in the House of Commons, that, according to a return 
which had been recently laid on the table, one bishop had 
an income equal to the salaries of the Speaker of the 
House of Commons, the Secretaries of the Home Office, 
of the Colonies, of Foreign Affiiirs, and of a Commis- 
sioner of the Customs, all added together. Another 
bishop, he stated, had an income equal to the salaries of 
the Chief Justices of the Queen's Bench and of the Com- 
mon Pleas, the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and the 
Sergeant-at-Arms attending the House, all put together. 
Sir B. Hall had taken up the subject of church abuses 
39 



458 THE SLAVEHOLDEE ABROAD; OR, 

about tliis time, your lordsliip may remember, and pub- 
lished a letter on the subject, which contained much valu- 
able information. I do not propose to trouble you with 
it, but I cannot resist the inclination to read in your hear- 
ing the following remarks of the ^ Weekly Dispatch ' 
(published on the 2d of November, in the same year), in 
which this letter and these church abuses were discussed : 

'PITY THE BROKEN-DOWN CLERGY. 

At Arpthorp's ' Depot for the Publications of Ecclesiastical 
and Pohtical Progress,' in Bishopsgate street Without, a letter 
on ' Church Abuses,' written by Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart, M. P. 
for Marylebone, is sold at the extraordinary low price of one 
penny. It is an exposure of Church abuses, which it reflects 
as clearly as any mirror that ever left the establishment of 
M'Lean. 

Yery few persons think there exists anything but pure reli- 
gion under long lawn or a goat's-hair wig; they are quite in- 
dignant if you hint that a bishop would not stick at a trifle in 
a matter in which money was concerned ; and go further, and 
impugn your belief, if you think a bishop loves lucre. Robert 
Moore, a prebend of Canterbury Cathedral, is one of the sons 
of Archbishop Moore. This archbishop, about fifty years ago, 
gave his son a sinecure ofiice in the Prerogative Court of Can- 
terbury, worth only £10,894 per annum 

On reference to Sir Benjamin Hall's penny letter, we find that 
in seven years, ending 1850, his Grace's gross income was 
£210,134 8s. 4d. ; his net income, £160,984 Is. 8d. ; income 
from fines for seven years, £83,951 12s. Id. ; and his average 
salary, poor man, only £22,90*7 15s. 4^d. a-year ! How his 
Grace manages to sustain life upon such a paltry, unworthy 
income, we are totally at a loss to discover. ..... 

That ill-used and over-worked man, the Bishop of London, 
is in a worse plight ; his income is only £16,513 2s. lOd. a-year. 
Why, upon such scandalous wages, he must be as badly off as 
a ' poor frozen-out gardener' of Pulham. 

The Bishop of Durham grasps £26,186 16s. Ofd. a-year. 
The odd three farthings ! In many instances the bishops have, 
in addition to their sees, several other sources of ecclesiastical 
preferments ; for instance, the Bishop of Exeter is treasurer 
and canon of his cathedral, value £1198 per annum; rector 
of Shobrook, £280 per annum ; canon of Durham, £2600 per 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 459 

annum; total, £4078 net income, besides his see. But we 
have shown, in another article devoted to this subject, how the 
bishops have evaded furnishing true and faithful returns ; how 
they have ' cooked their accounts,' in order to preserve their 
enormous incomes ; but it was done, we suppose, for the glory 
of the Most High, and not with any view to enrich themselves 
by laying hold of what is erroneously called the property of 
the Church.' 

'CORMORANTS OF THE CHURCH. 

Some weeks since, the Rev. Charles Phillips wrote to Sir 
Benjamin Hall, one of the members for the Borough of Mary- 
lebone, asking him to subscribe his mite towards the erection 
of a church in Bedford I^ewtown, St. Pancras. Sir Benjamin 
declined to accede to the reverend gentleman's request, on the 
following grounds (we hope others may do likewise): — 'I 
consider that the funds of the Established Church are ample 
for the erection of churches, and to provide for the spiritual 
wants of the laity, without the constant demands which are 
made upon us by the clergy who are in possession of the eccle- 
siastical property, while the working clergy are left with the 
smallest pittance, and the laity are taxed for contributions, 
under the plea of the poverty of the Church. If I take the 
case of the diocese of London, I can prove that the property 
of the Church, now vested in the Bishop and the Deans and 
Chapters of St. Paul's, and St. Peter's, Westminster, is amply 
sufficient for all spiritual purposes, if properly administered. 
The present Bishop of London, when sitting at the Board of 
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in 1837, determined that the in- 
come of a Bishop of London should be £10,000 per annum, 
and he returned the revenue of the see, for the seven years end- 
ing 1835, at £105,045 14s. 4d., giving an annual average of 
£15,786 7s. 9d., and at that time the Paddington estate was 
only partially built upon. The next septennial return, ending 
December, 1843, shows the income had materially increased ; 
and the last return for seven years, ending 1850, exhibits a still 
greater increase ; and this is independent of any leases which 
may have been granted by the Bishop to his trustees for pri- 
vate uses, upon which, no fines having been taken, his lordship 
has not given the value. Thus, for instance, in 1843, the in- 
(tome is returned at £13,500 ; but the Bishop having run his 
life against the lives of the lessees, he granted a new lease of 
the rectory of Rickmansworth, the annual rent-charge of which 



460 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

is £1406 18s., to his trustees. The value of the see that year 
should consequently have been returned at £33,000 at least 
instead of £18,500. In 1848, the net income, as given by the 
Bishop, was £22,9Y5 — this is exclusive of two palaces — while 
the annual value of livings in his gift amounts to £58,^25, as 
exhibited in the Clergy List, to which may be added other 

patronage, worth many thousands a-year 

In 1850, being the last year of the septennial period, the 
Bishop of Durham's net income was £24,363, although his 
lordship was appointed subject to the provisions of the act of 
1836, in which year the income was fixed at £8000. The 
Bishop of Winchester, in the same year, had £26,241, instead 
of £1000, and alienated from the Church a most valuable estate 
in Southwark, for afine of about £17,000, by renewing a lease. 
The Bishop of St. David's enjoys a much larger income than 
that assigned to his see, and receives £1600 a-year from the 
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, to make up an imaginary defi- 
ciency. The Bishops of Chichester, Oxford and Rochester, 
do the same in various amounts. The Archbishop of York, 
^vhen Bishop of Hereford, received £15,400 from the Commis- 
sioners to make up a similar supposed deficiency, whereas, in- 
cluding that sum, he had £18,195 Its. 4d. more than the in- 
come assigned to his see. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, 
when translated to that see from Oxford in 1845, found a, 
charge upon the see to the Commissioners of £800 a-year, after 
allowing £5000 a-year to the Bishop. In the five years end- 
ing December, 1850, his lordship received £28,326 15s., but 
did not pay one farthing of the charge due from him, retaining 
the amount to his own uses.' 

During the same year, tlie ^ Times ' published a letter 
from the Eev. Sidney Godolphin Osborne, from which I 
have taken the following : 

'CAST-OFF APPAREL FOR POOR CURATES. 

' The sympathy of the public has of late years been a good 
deal directed to the evils of what is called the slop-system. 
Poor Hood and others have done much for overworked, ill- 
paid seamstresses and tailors ; the contrast, however, between 
capital in cash and capital in sweat and toil does still present 
many painful features. There is a class of workmen to whom 
little sympathy has as yet been afforded, but whose condition 
deserves all sympathy, and I think is capable of amendment ; 



BILLY buck's visit TO ENGLAND. 461 

I mean those unfortunate gentlemen who as curates do a good 
deal of slopwork for the Church capitalists. 

' Tlie curate of a parish can do for the souls of the people 
every sing:le necessary thing tliat the rector can do, or even a 
bishop. The curate is often left in sole and entire charg-e of a 
very large parish ; he represents in that parish all tlie Church 
offers, all the State demands, for the cure of souls in it. The 
rector or vicar may be drawing from £300 to £800 per annum 
from the said parish as master spiritual workman of it, and 
this net, clear of all deductions ; the curate — the slop-hand — 
is doing the work at a salary of from £80 to £120, with una- 
voidable calls upon that income, seldom leaving to any curate 
a clear four-fiftlis of the nominal payment to him. We hear 
with truth of the wealth of the Church ? we know now what 
have been, and still are, the incomes of the bishops ; we know 
something of the amount of money falling into the hands of the 
Ecclesiastical Commissioners ; we know how they have aided 
in building palaces, and been blind to knavery in highly reve- 
rend quarters. Will the public believe the fact? — for yeors 
past there has been a society whose aim is to collect cast-off 
apparel for poor curates. I have read with my own eyes the 
letters of curates and their wives, full of gratitude for gifts of 
worn-out clothing, giving painfully interesting details of how 
they worked up our old things into their own and children's 
best apparel. If merit should ever lead to promotion, I can 
quite conceive the possibility of a gentleman stepping into 
Fulham as its rightful occupant who had lately worn gratefully 
the cast-off trousers of the late bishop, and made Sabbath 
coatees for his children of the w^orn-out gowns of his wife. 
Why, sir, ladies' maids and valets have a right to complain that 
charitable ladies come to master or mistress and beg for poor 
parsons the perquisites of their orders.' ' 

Again, the same reverend gentleman says, 

' I have before me the report for 1852 of ' the Poor Pious 
Clergyman Clothing Society ;' in it there is a copy of a letter 
of thanks for relief to the manager of that institution, under 
every letter of the alphabet ; and these are headed * Extracts 
from Correspendence.' I find in these, letters from clergymen 
— i. e., from men who might be bishops — gratitude expressed 
for coats, which fitted themselves as though they ' had been 
made to measure ;' secondhand frocks, equally fortunate in fit, 
39* 



462 THE SLAVEHOLDER ABEOAD ; OE, 

'for their daughters;' 'brown linen, whieh makes np into 
wagoner's bibs for our boys.' * Ohi bed curtains, whieli, re- 
made, made nice winter curtains for my room.' 'When we are 
sitting round our hearth," writes hotter 'G,' 'we talk over our 
dross, and one points to one thing and anotlier to another, all 
and each supplied by your parcel.' Letter ' L' says, 'Accept 
our warmest thanks for all you have sent, but especially for 

the linen, whieh Mrs. L much required ; the boots and 

coats are matters of delight to my boys,' kc, &q. 

Commenting on tliese facts, one of your radical journals 
holds tlie following language : 

'Probably among these humble meu we might find some 
of the lights of the Church as she should be. What a hard 
step-mother they have found her as she is. She ordained them 
to 1)0 children of God ; she "compels them to be the suppliants 
of men for food and raiment to keep them respectable. A 
member of this national Church dare not preach where he can, 
and so get him together a congregation who trust and love 
him. No, he is adiuitted to the grace of starvation, while the 
property amassed in the course of ages is shared mostly on the 
principle of patronage and favoritism 

Then there is the enormous folly of simony ; the enormous 
folly of non-residence ; the enormous folly of doing work by 
badly paid deputies, who are ground down to the earth — the 
clerical Fncle Toms of clerical Legrees — victims of the worst 
kind of slavery, the slavery of mock freedom, the slavery whose 
alternative is starvation.' — The Leader, April IQth, 1853. 

I tliink that it is unnecessary for me to add anything 
further on this subject, and in support of the proposition 
■which I have submitted for your lordship's conside- 
ration.'' 

Lord B. *^ Suppose that proposition be admitted, Doc- 
tor. What then ? xlm I next to be invited to agree with 
you that there is no such thing as gradual reform, no 
remedy for such evils, except that which is to be found in 
revolution and a cheap republic?" 

Mysdf. " By no manner of means. ISTeither as a re- 
medy for these evils, nor as a refuge from the crime, pri- 
vation, and sulfering, which so extensively prevail in this 



BILLY buck's VLSIT TO ENGLAND. 463 

kingdom, would I advise any such rash experiment or 
resort. I have no call to preach revolution, and no such 
qualifications as should authorize me to set up as a re- 
former. Indeed, to be candid, I must confess that I re- 
gard the form of government which prevails in my own 
country as still an experiment — an experiment the ten- 
dency of which, in some parts of our country, according 
to present indications, is to urge liberty over that preci- 
pice, upon the edge of which constitutional barriers termi- 
nate, and into the gulf of license which lies below — an 
experiment, the present tendency of which is to agitate 
the vessel of State so much as to bring too many of its 
dregs to the surface. Before we undertake to set our- 
selves up as a model, therefore, it behooves us, in my opi- 
nion, so to guide our course, and govern ourselves, that, 
in avoiding the Scylla by which your vessel is threatened, 
we are cast not upon a Charybdis equally as dangerous 
and destructive. And I have ventured to tax your lord- 
ship's patience with these several conversations (at your 
own instance, it is true), not for the purpose of recom- 
mending our system as that which should be adopted in 
lieu of your own (although, with all its weak points, I 
believe it infinitely superior to yours) ; but for the pur- 
pose of impressing upon your consideration the force of 
the following truths: viz., that the institution of slavery, 
whether it be a blessing or a curse, was derived from the 
people of England; that it was incorporated into our 
social polity by the mother country ; * that notwithstand- 
ing the existence of this institution in our midst, — per- 
haps partially because thereof, — our people have greatly 
the advantage of that mother country in the elements of 
virtue and happiness ; that, surrounded as your people 
are by the dark mass of evils which I have pointed out, 
so much in need of social reform themselves, as to cause 
your own moralists to cry out that ' there is no liberty 
in England for the poor,' sick almost unto death with 
social disease, and unable to heal yourselves, we cannot 
confide m your skill as physicians for our body-politic ; 

* See Stevens's History of Georgia, pp. 285, 28G, 287-308. Also, 
App., I. 



4G.I: THE SLAVEHOLDER ABROAD. 

and that, as a consequence, we have the right to insist 
that we may he nioi'e safely trusted to apply our own 
rouunlios, iu our own time and way, to our institutions, 
according as we may think they need ' the amending 
hand.' In the mean time, and in view of all these things, 
we further insist that it is not modest, sensible, or just, 
for your people to obtrude interference in the shape of 
passionate appeals for the reform of our institutions from 
your philanthropic ladies, or bitter denunciations of us 
and those institutions from your anti-slavery gentlemen ; 
and that if, nevertheless, such people persist in attempt- 
ing to ' pull out the mote ' from our eyes, without first 
casting * out the beam ' from their own, they must expect, 
in this connection, to hear those other scriptural words, 
'thou hypocrite !' and to be told that ' with what measure 
ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.' " 

Here ended our conversation ; and here, dear sir, must 
end the last letter which I shall, perhaps, ever write to 
you from England. 

Very respectfully, 

Yr. friend and cousin, 

P. Jones. 

To Major J. Jones, 

Pineville, Ga., U. S. of America. 



APPENDIX. 



A. 

In order that the reader may be aided in the effort to insti- 
tute the comparison which has been invited in the preceding 
pages, between the state of morals and of crime among the 
people of a slaveholding community, and of those of Great 
Britain, and be somewhat qualified to form an opinion as to 
the effect in this and other respects, of the two systems — the 
slaveholding and the free labor — upon the character and hap- 
piness of men, I have deemed it advisable to annex a report 
made by the Judge of the Middle District in the State of 
Georgia, having reference to the state of crime, &c., in that 
district during the years 1850, 1851, and 1852, and published 
in 1853 and 1854. 

*' To Ilia Excellency, Howell Cobb, Governor, ^c. 

^ 1. Sir. — For a part of the time during wliich I have occupied the 
Bench of the Superior Court in this State, I have kept a record of crimi- 
nal cases tried before me ; and have obtained information from the evi- 
dence submitted, or directly from the accused, enabling me to elicit some 
statistical results, which I have thought might possibly be found useful, 
if published. 

FroTn the accusations before the Superior Courts, of the nine counties 
in the Middle District, in the form of indictments, I have also derived 
some information from which I have deduced similar results. 

Such statistics in other countries, where the law makes a provision by 
which they are obtained, have been found of considerable importance. 
They have served to suggest reflections of interest to the social, and the 
law reformer, to the law-maker, and the law-expounder. Though, those 
wliich I present are upon a limited scale, and cannot be expected to be 
thus highly impoi-tant, still they serve to throw some light upon the 
character and condition of society in our State ; I have therefore con- 
cluded tliat it would not be amiss to give them publicity. I couM tliink 
of no way by which I might effect this better, than by putting them into 
the shape of a lloport to the Chief Magistrate of our State ; and accord- 
ingly, 1 thus submit them to the public. 

2e (465) 



40G APPENDIX. 

§ 2. I propose at first to refer only to tlie accusations made against, 
and trials had, of free -vvbito persons in the Superior Courts of this Dis- 
trict, for the three years 1850, 1851, and 1852. I hope hereafter to show 
•what is the state of crime in tliis Judicial District among persons of color. 

^ o. During- the years just specitiod, there have been olO accusations in 
the form stated against Avhite citizens in this District; being an average 
of lOG^ per year. 

I 4. Tlie following table will show the centesimal proportiop of crimes 
contained in these accusations against the person, against societi/, and 
a ii'ainst />/•()/)«' /•///, • for the three years stated. Under the head of crimes 
against society, 1 include such offences as bigamy, bastardy, forgery, re- 
tsiiliiig -without a license, xittering counterfeit money, trading with slaves, 
&c. Under the head of crimes against property, I place all larcenies, 
robbery, malicious mischief, &c. 

In every 100 accusations of all kinds there are: 

Of crime against the person 48-28 

Of crime against society 87-93 

Of crime against property 13-79 

100 00 

^ 5. The following table will show the centesimal proportion of the 
various accusations tiled during tliese three years. I put them in this form, 
thinking that it will be more convenient and useful, than if I were to 
give number and detail. 

In every 100 accusations of all kinds, there are : 

Adultery and fornication 5-53 

Affray 1-57 

Altering marks of animals -31 

Arson -31 

Assault and battery, and assault 31'70 

x\ssault with intent to murder 2-50 

Assault with intent to commit rape -31 

Attempt to excite insurrection* -31 

Bastardy -63 

Bigamy -63 

Cheating and swindling -63 

Cruelty to slaves -31 

Forgery -63 

Forcible entrv 'Bo 

Gaming ' 2.19 

Having counterfeit bills in possession with intent to pass 

the same -31 

Harboring- a slave , -31 

Illegally whipping a slave 1-88 

Keeping open a tippling house on the Sabbath-day 2-19 

Keeping disorderly houses... 1-25 

Keeping lewd houses 1-88 

Killing cattle "31 

Larceny from the house 3-15 

Larceny simple 6*58 

Larceny from the person 'SI 

* The offender was a foreigner. 



APPENDIX. 467 

Malicious mischief. 1"57 

Manslaughter "63 

Mayhem '31 

Murder 3-45 

Notorious act of public indecency -63 

Peijury 94 

Rape 63 

Resisting civil officers , '31 

Retailing without a license 7-52 

Riot '94 

Robbery '31 

Stabbing 4-40 

Trading with and furnishing liquor to slaves 8-77 

Uttering base coin , 2-19 

Uttering counterfeit bills -31 

Vagrancy '31 

Violating graves '94 

100-00 

§ 6. It will be found in the above table, that crimes against the person 
greatly preponderate; assaults and batteries, and assaults (which are the 
slightest offences against the person) constituting almost one-third in 
every hundred offences. 

Of the accusations involving charges of mu.der, not more than one 
could be considered as premeditated murder. The remainder were cases 
of death resulting from fighting in hot blood. It follows, therefore 
(there being 11 charges of murder in the 319j, that in every 100 accusa- 
tions of all kinds, there are of murder premeditated only 31-100 of a 
case, or less than 10 in every 100 accusations involving the charge of 
murder. 

It will be perceived, that of offences against the person, the charge of 
stabbing bears the larger proportion next to assaults and batteries. The 
frequency of the offence, committed as it is with a knife or other deadly 
instrument, is suggestive of the too prevalent habit of carrying such 
weapons in our State. 

§ 7. Of offences against Society, it will be seen that trading with and 
furnishing spirituous liquors to slaves, and retailing without a license, 
are the most common, the first being in the proportion of 8-77 in every 
100 of all crimes, and the latter in the proportion of 7-52. 

^ 8. Of offences against property, the most common is the crime of 
simple larceny, which is in the proportion of 6-58 in every 100 offences 
of all descriptions. It is proper to remark, however, that of these 5-33, 
or all but 1-25, are found in the county of Richmond alone, where the 
principal town in the District is situated, (a town of some 15,000 inhabi- 
tants at this time, I believe), and where — as similar statistics in other 
countries show — that state of society exists (I am not sure, but I should be 
justifiable in saying, that peculiar result of civilization is found) which 
seems most prolific of theft. But I will have more to say and show on 
this subject by-and-by, when I shall come to compare these tables with 
those similar statistics in other countries. 

§ 9, I find by the United States Census returns filed in your Excel- 
lency's department, and published by authority of our General Assembly, 



468 APPENDIX. 

that there were at that time in the nine counties of this District, a white 
population of 37,278 souls. 

§ 10. It is evident, therefore, that for the three years specified, there 
has been one accusation against a white person to every 850-57 of the 
white population. 

§ 11. It has been seen that the mass of these consists of assaults and 
batteries, misdemeanors, and other minor offences not felonies, or punish- 
able by imprisonment in the penitentiary. Of felonies, or offences so 
punishable, there are about 1 -5 of the whole number, or 20 felonies in 
100 oft'ences of all kinds, or one felony in about every 1750 of the white 
population, 

§ 12. Of the whole number of these accusations, I find that 296 are 
against males, and 23 against females, or one accusation against a woman 
to every 13-87 males. 

Nearly all the crimes committed by females are by abandoned women 
in the principal town of the District. But 7 out of 319 are charges 
against women who live in the country. 

The following table will show the centesimal proportion of accusations 
against males and females. 

In every 100 accusations, there are; 

Oifences committed by males , 92-79 

Offences committed by females 7-21 

100-00 
In every 100 accusations, there are: 

Offences against the person by males 9G-11 

Offences against the person by females 3-89 

100-00 
In every 100 accusations, there are: 

Offences against property by males 97*73 

Offences against property by females 2*27 

100-00 
In every 100 accusations, there are : 

Offences against society by males 86-78 

Offences against society by females 13-22 

100-00 

^13. The record of trials affords us tabular results quite as interesting. 
For example, we find that in every 100 cases which have been tried in 
this District, there are accused : 

Natives of the Southern States 83-33 

Natives of the Northern States » 3-70 

Natives of foreign countries 12-97 

100-00 

^ 14. We also find that in every 100 cases tried, there are : 

Married persons 63-46 

Unmarried persons 36-54 

100 00 



APPENDIX. 469 

§ 15. In every 100 persons tried there are : 

Persons who can read and write badly 18-31 

Persons who can read and write indifferently well 32-69 

Persons who can read and write very well 16-ol 

Persons who are good scholars 1 -92 

Persons who cannot read or write 3077 

100-00 
^ 16. In every 100 persons tried, there are: 

Persons over 15 and under 20 years old 3-85 

Persons over 20 and under 30 years old 46-15 

Persons over 30 and under 40 years old 28-85 

Persons over 40 and under 50 years old 7.69 

Persons over 50 and under 60 years old 13-46 



100-00 
§ 17. In every 100 cases tried of all kinds there have been 33-33 cases 
with which the evidence connected the use of spirituous liquors as a 
cause; or just one-third. And in every 100 cases of crimes against the 
person, there have been 46-16 cases with which the evidence connected 
the use of spirituous liquors as a cause. By which it appears that nearly 
one half of the crimes against the person are more or less attributable to 
spirituous liquors. 

§ 18. In every 100 cases which have been tried, there have been : 

Pleas, or verdicts of Guilty, in 68-52 

Verdicts of Not Guilty, in 31-48 



100-00 

§ 19. It is true that these tables would be more satisfactory, and more 
nearly approach accuracy, if the instances on which they are based were 
more numerous, and the field of observation wider. Still, as they are, 
they afford some approximation to correctness of result, something from 
which practical inferences can be drawn. Such calculations should never 
be expected to point with positive accuracy to truth, but only to indicate 
it with an approach to such accuracy. 

Certain it is, that some of the data from which the above conclusions 
are derived, are more numerous and accurate than many of a similar 
kind from which Messrs. Beaumont and De Tocqueville deduce their re- 
sults in their famous treatise on crime in America. 

I hope, with the aid of these gentlemen and others, to compare some 
of the results above obtained with similar statistics in other States and 
countries. 

§ 20. One of the first features in the tables which I have presented 
that prominently attracts our attention, is the very considerable prepon- 
derance of crimes against the person. 

What does this indicate? As compared with similar calculations in 
other civilized countries, what observation should be made upon it? If 
these crimes against the person were of an atrocious character and not 
chiefly assaults and batteries, or other minor offences, I should hesitate 
before agreeing that it was not to be regai-dcd as a sign of a people moro 
or less barbarous, as compared with other civilized States. It is proper 
to remark, however, that calculations based upon statistics in latter 
years, especially as regards society in America, do not show that crimes 

40 



470 APPENDIX. 

against the person are fewest "where civilization (especially that which 
conslists with the highest degree of education) has most extended its 
influences. 

Figures clearly show this in many places. For example, the tables of 
INI. Guerry in his " Statistique Morale de France," a work published 
about 20 years since, show " that while crimes against the person are 
the most frequent in Corsica, the Provinces of the Southeast, and Alsace, 
where the people are well instructed, there are the fe"west of these crimes 
in Berri, Limousin, and Brittany, where the people are most ignorant. 

Again, welind MM. Beaumont and De Tocqueville saying, when speaking 
of crime in the United States, "Tluxs not only do two States out of three 
present a greater proportion of individuals condemned for crimes against 
the person in 1830 than in 17U0," (when the writer supposes the States 
were less civilized than in 18o0.) '-but in 1880, that State where we find 
the greatest number of snch offences is the State of Connecticut, which 
in point of education and intelligence {en fait iri7istructi(m et de lumieres) 
occupies the first i\ank in the whole Union ; and the State Avhich has 
fewest crimes against the person is the State of Pennsylvania, where the 
population is comparatively ignorant." — Beaumotit et De Tocqueville, 
System Feniientiare, Vol, II., p, 263, 

At another place on the same page, these writers say, '-it has been 
generally considered in Europe, that as a society advances in civilization, 
the number of crimes against the person diminishes. The statistics 
which we have to present, prove, that in America at least this is not true. 
"We see, on the contrary, that in Pennsylvania the number of crimes 
against the person does not diminish with time, and that, in tlie States 
of Connecticut and New York, according as civilization advances, these 
offences seem to increase with it. This increase takes place in a manner 
equal and uniform ; it is difficult to attribute it to chance." 

Thus we see that an increase of crimes against the person with us is 
not, necessaril}', evidence of a low state of morals and civilization. 

^ 21. Though this be true, still I think that if connected with this 
considerable preponderance of crime against the person in oiu" district, 
the statistics which I present exhibited many such offences of an aggra- 
vated and atrocious character (instead of an almost entire absence of 
such cases), it would be legitimate to conclude therefrom, that this state 
of facts indicates an inferior state of moi-als and civilization. 

As it is, I think Ave are only authorized to infer from it, that our people 
are tenacious of a reputation for courage, that they are resentful of in- 
sults, are fond of indulgence in spirituous liquors, and when under this 
influence are too apt to give and to resent real or fancied insults ; that 
they are a people of quick passions without malice, as the general rule, 
and though often erring while under the efi'ects of intoxication or passion, 
are without that brutality, that induration of moral perception in which 
so many horrrible crimes have their origin in other countries ; especially 
in France and England. That notwithstanding the fjxct, that as a whole, 
they do not reach a very high standard of education, yet that there is 
among them a general diffusion of Christian and moral influence, and 
sentiments, and that they are not urged by oppressive institutions, nor 
want and starvation into those desperate or depraved habits, which de- 
grade and brutalize the human being; and out of which these terrible 
ci-imes arise, as the reeking vapors ascend from the dunghill. 

We shall be confirmed in this view by observing the exceedingly small 



APPENDIX. 471 

number of crimes against property, and the comparatively small number 
of aggravated cases of ci'imes against society, which these statistics 
present. 

^ 22. The next remark which the subject calls for, is, that the number 
of accusations in proportion to the white population, at first impresses one 
as greater than we have the right to expect from other circumstances 
wliich come under our notice. 

If we contrast this with the number of crimes in France, in proportion 
to the population, as shown by M. Guer/'y's tables, in the work already 
referred to, the comparison will appear to be greatly in favor of tliut 
country. But this aspect will not bear close scrutiny. Such examination 
will show a better state of morals in our community than in highly 
civilized France. 

It will be found, by looking to the tables which I have presented, thnt 
the great majority of accusations with us, are for minor offences; such 
as assaults and batteries, retailing without license, trading with slaves, 
petit larcenies, ami other inconsiderable misdemeanors ; there being very 
few atrocious crimes of any description, especially such crimes as pre- 
meditated murder (or assassination as the French call it), death from 
poison, paiTicide, crimes against children, rapes, arson, burglary, &c. ; 
whilst M. Guerry's tables groan under the weight of many such ; and 
they may be said indeed to constitute a very large proportion of the 
crimes in France. 

As I have already shown, in our community, the felonies of all descrip- 
tions amount to only about one-fifth of the accusations. 

^ 23. As compared with England and Wales, the number of crimes is 
verj' largely in our favor. 

i find, that in the year 1840 there were, in England and Wales, about 
80,501 committals. The population at that time was about 15,000,000, 
and this gives us about one committal or accusation to every 173-28 of 
the population. — Chambers's Informalion for the People, Vol. I., p. 40; 
1st Am. Ed. 

From other sources, it is easy to learn that the proportions of crimes to 
the population in England is much greater than with us ; and among the 
offences in England and Wales are crimes, the most revolting to humanity, 
parricides, murders of children by parents, (driven to desperation and 
madness by want and starvation), shocking mutilations of tender infants, 
premeditated murders of wife by husband, and husband by wife, viola- 
tions of females ending in murder, deaths by poison, and by starvation, 
atrocious burglaries consummated by murder, and other such crimes. Let 
it not be supposed, that the view of this subject which these statistics 
furnish, would be changed if the number of crimes committed by persons 
of color constituted an element in our calculations. I am prepared, at the 
proper time, to show, that, in proportion to the population, there are fewer 
crimes among our slaves than among the whites ; and that a report of 
crimes among the slaves in our district wid be found almost, if not quite, 
as favorable, as that given by Sir Charles Lyell in his last book of travels 
in this country, of the 500 slaves on the estate of Mr. James Hamilton 
Couper of our State. 

^ 24. The next feature in these tables worthy of your Excellency's 
attention is the smallness of the number of females charged with crime, 
in our community. That number is only 7-21 in every 100 accusations. 
Now, from Sir Henry L. Bulwer's "France, Social, Literary, and Po- 



472 APPENDIX. 

litical," p. 143, we learn, that ''in the committals in England and Wales, 
the females are in the proportion of 1 to 3." From a note on the same 
page we learn, that " in 100 crimes against the person, the men are guilty 
of 86, the women of 14. Of 100 crimes against property, the men com- 
mit 79, the women 21." 

From another source we learn, that " the proportion of females to 
males in committals (Enghxnd and Wales) for thefts without violence, is 
as 84 to 73, a difference of one-sixth against females." — Chambers's Infor- 
mation for the People, Vol. I., p. 461 ; 1st Am. Ed. 

From another we ascertain, that from 1827 to 1831, in Connecticut, 
there was 1 white woman committed to 16-44 whites of both sexes; or 1 
white woman to 15-44 of males: in Pennsylvania, in the year 1830, there 
was 1 white woman committed to 15*64 of both sexes, or 14-64 males. — 
Beaumont et De Tocqueville, Systeme Penitentiare aux Flats Unis, p. 271. 

Let us observe first, the wonderful difference in our favor in this respect, 
when compared with France and England, the two most civilized nations 
of Europe. In France, the committals of females are as 1 woman to 3 
males ; in England and Wales, as 1 to 5 ; with U3 they are as 1 to more 
than 13. This simple circumstance is significant of a very great difference 
between our societ}-, and that of those two countries. 

Here is a fact, prominent, indisputable, which gives evidence in our 
favor of a great moral advantage ; which proves — whatever they may say 
of our civilization, and the structure of our society — that moral degrada- 
tion and crime, as compared with them, have made but little inroad upon 
the mothers of our State. 

In this respect, we can compare favorably even with " the land of steady 
habits." The statistical results above given, as to Connecticut, it is true, 
are very nearly similar to those which our tables present ; but it should 
be recollected that the statistics, furnished by the French wi'iter, refer to 
the whole State, while mine go only to nine counties of our State, em- 
bracing one of the only two cities in the State of more than 10,000 in- 
habitants, oiTt of which city arise 16 (or nearly two-thirds) of the 23 
(dfences shown to have been committed by females. And these 16 are 
principally by lewd women of the town, several of whom were natives of 
the Northern States. 

In the rural portions of the district, which contain more than one-half 
the population, only about one-third of the offences which are committed, 
are committed by women. 

This plainly authorizes the conclusion, that, if an average were taken 
of the whole State, it would be greatly in favor of our population over 
Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in this regard. 

If it be thought, that this comparison is not entirely fair, because out 
of our calculations the negro women are omitted, whilst the laboring 
peasantry are of course included in the foreign statistics, and that among 
them these crimes may be chiefly found, I again suggest, that I hope 
hereafter to give a statement of crimes among persons of color in our 
disti-ict, and in the meantime, I declare, that facts and figures show with- 
out the least doubt, that among the negro women of our district, there 
are by far, fewer crimes than among the whites, and that if I were to 
present this comparison with reference to the whole population, the result 
would be still more remarkably in our favor. 

§ 25. Another feature in the statistics to which I have called your 
attention, is the proportion of foreigners accused, to the natives. This 



APPENDIX. 47 



Q 



proportion is very large, being 12-97, or (discarding the minute fraction) 
I'i in every 100 offences. 

In a calculation which 1 have made, based upon a statement which has 
been kindly prepared for me under the directions of Major Zachury, the 
worthy Principal Keeper of our Penitentiary, i find the ratio of foreigners 
imprisoned there, to the number of convicts, natives of the United States, 
us something less. 

I take occasion here (while alluding to this Penitentiary record) to say, 
that I hope in some subsequent number to present the results in 
the form of tables (similar to those which I have presented in my first 
number), derived from this State Prison summary. In the mean time, I 
shall refer to it in aid of the observations 1 am making upon the Statistics 
which 1 have already published. 

This record from our Penitentiary shows the proportion of foreigners 
to be as 7-20 in every 100. 

As a sort of disturbing force to the conclusion, derived from this record, 

I find — by the returns of the United States census of 1850 for our State 

that there were reported 85 convictions in the year, GO of which were 
natives, and I'J foreigners. Also, that on the 1st of June, 1850, there 
were in prison o4 natives and 7 foreigners. 

This exhibits a wonderful disproportion of foreigners to natives, takin<' 
into consideration the relative numbers of the population, foreign and 
native ; the convictions showing one foreigner to about every 3-50 natives, 
and the accusations 1 to about 5. 

These returns, however, seem to be incomplete, and derived from a 
portion of the counties only; and should not, therefore, probably, be 
taken into the account. 

Let us then take the very lowest ratio exhibited, viz. : that shown by 
the record from our Penitentiary, where we have 7-20 foreigners born 
out of the Union in every 100 convictions, or 9 out of the whole number, 
125, and consider the subject with reference to that proportion. 

By the United States census returns for our State, I find, that in 1850 
the foreign population, or number of our inhabitants born out of the 
United States, was 5907. Since that time, this population has very much 
increased. I find by the sexton's report for the city of Augusta, during 
the pHh;t year, that the deaths and burials of foreigners in the city have 
considerably more than doubled since 1850; and this population has pro- 
bably, therefore, more than doubled in this place, since that year. 

The intelligent officer at present occupied in taking the city census, has 
satisfied me by other facts which he has brought to my attention, that 
this population has more than doubled in Augusta since that date. This 
is also true, no doubt, of other cities in the State. The increase, how- 
ever, is very much confined to the towns, and is slight elsewhere. 

On the whole, I think that I shall not be far from the truth in assuming 
that the number of such persons in our State, at present, is very nearly 
10,000. 

Now, according to the census returns, the free white population of our 
State in 1850 was 521,438. From this let us deduct the number of for- 
eigners at the time, viz. : 5907, and we have in round numbers a native 
white population, of 515,000. from among these 515,000 natives, then, 
40* 



474: APPENDIX. 

eumo the 110 native convicts in the Penitentiary, while tVom the 10,000 
foreigners came the uino convicts born out of the United States. 

This, it "will be perceived, gives one conviction of a native to every 4956 
of the native population, and one conviction of a foreigner to every 1111 
of the foreign population, or four of the latter to one of the former, taking 
into consideration the relative proportion of the population, foreign and 
native. In this estimate, it will be seen, we have not taken into account 
the increase of the native white population since 1850. 

I have not time to dwell upon the practical reflections to which these 
results give rise, but must for the present leave them with the reader. 

Before taking leave of this subject, however, I desire to remark, that 
Beaumout and De Tocqueville, in their Si/steme Penitentaire, kc, show 
that at the time when they wrote, in the States of ^Massachusetts, Con- 
necticut, Isew York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, the number of persons 
born out of the United States, in the State prisons of these States, was 
as 14 in every 100 imprisoned [Beaumont et de Tocqueville, Si/steme iV/Ji- 
iefitiare ; Par. edit. ISoG, vol. 2, p. 500), a result very similar to that 
which the record from this district, as presented by me, shows, "viz. : 13 
in every 100 imprisonments. 

I tiud also from the same source, and same page, that in the States 
referred to, the number of persons, natives of tiie State in which they 
were tried, in the State Prisons, were as 53 in every 100 of all otfences, 
and the number of persons, natives of other States of the United States, 
were as 33 in every 100 ; while the record kept by me shows 55 natives 
of the State and 32 natives of other States in every 100 tried — a result 
very nearly coincident. 

At the same place, these writers compare the number of foreigners tried 
in France in proportion to natives, with what is shown (as above) as true 
of the United States, and say that — 

The number of foreigners in France to the total accused is as 3 to 100. 

The number of accused born in the department where tried, is to the 
whole as 72 to 100. 

The number of accused born oxit of The department, but in France, is 
as 23 to 100. 

This table shows many more natives accused of crime, much fewer 
foreigners, and considerably fewer persons born in other sections of the 
country than with us. 

Messrs. Beaumont and De Tocqueville think that this result is owing 
to the fact that the population in France is ''infinitely more sedentary" 
than with us. There can be no doubt, that this in part accounts for the 
difference; but whilst it does this, it also illustrates in part, the difference 
in the moral condition of the two countries, especially when we take in 
connection with it the retloction, that the record Avhich 1 have presented, 
and by which we make this comparison, exhibits few or none of those 
revolting crimes which appear so prominently in the criminal calendar 
of the French. 

I 2li. Another very interesting feature of these statistics is the compa- 
rative ages of persons committing crimes. Our tables show, that in this 
judicial district 3-85 are between the ages of 15 and 20, 46'15 between 
the ages of 20 and 30, 28-85 between 30 and 40, 7-69 between 40 and 50, 
13-40 between 50 and 00. 



APPENDIX. 475 

The record from our Penitentiary furnishes the following table : — 
Convicts between 15 and 21 in every 100 19-20 
♦' 21 and 30 " " 3'3-20 

" " 30 and 40 " " 22-40 

" " 40 and 50 " " 1200 

»« " 50 and GO " " G-40 

" " 60 and 70 " " 4-80 

100-00 
It appears by the record referred to, that of the above there are 13-40 
who are between 18 and 21, or nearly 20 years of age, and only 5-80 who 
are under 18. 

• A table is furni^^hed by Beaumont and De Tocqueville, at pp. 281, 282 of 
their work, lieretofore cited by me, showing the ages of oflenders in the 
States of N. York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut, as follows: 

Prisoners less than 20 years old 1 in 10 or 1000 

" between 20 and 30 1 in 2 or 50-00 

" •' 30 and 40 1 in 5 or 20-00 

«< " 40 and 50 1 in 9 or 11-11 

«« " 50 and 60 1 in 25 or 400 

The rest are above GO years old. 

A similar table is furnished by these writers, showing the ages of offen- 
ders in France, as follows : — 

Convicts less than 21 years of age 1 in 5 or 20-00 

between 21 and 30 1 in 3 or 33-33 

" " 30 and 40 1 in 4 or 2500 

** " 40 and 50 1 in 8 or 12-50 

•♦ " 50 and 60 1 in 18 or 5.56 

«* *' 60 and 70 1 in 46 or 2-17 

The number above 70, they say, is something, but so small as to make 
record useless. 

In Chambers's " Information for the People," I tind the following table 
compiled for England in the year 1838: — 

Offenders under 12 years old 1-58 

" between 12 and 16 9-92 

17 and 21 2913 

" " 22 and 30 31-24 

♦' " 31 and 40 14-75 

" " 41 and 50 702 

51 and 60 3-00 

" above 60 l-'58 

Not ascertained 1-78 

100-00 
In the British Almanac for 1845, 1 fi;id a similar table for 1843, as follows : 

Offenders aged under 15 years 5-7 

between 15 and 20 22-7 

20 and 25 24-3 

" ♦' 25 and 30 14 9 

30 and 40 16-4 

»♦ ♦' 40 and 50 81 

♦' " 50 and 60 3-5 

*' above GO 1-9 

Not ascertained 2-5 

100-00 



476 APPENDIX. 

§ 27. A comparison of these statistics, coming as they do from such 
difl'erent communities of men, and at different periods of time, is not a 
little iiseful. Such comparison serves very forcibly to show the approxi- 
mation to accuracy of result, and consequent reliability of such statistical 
tables. By it we find, what an English writer calls " wonderfully uniform 
results as to age," just where character, habits, structure of society, &c., 
may be supposed to operate with least influence ; and just such variations 
elsewhere as serve, to a certain extent, to illustrate the difference in the 
character, habits, and condition of the people. 

We observe at a glance, in these tables, how true it is, as Sir H. L. 
Bulwer somewhere says, that such statistics everywhere show that the 
greatest number of crimes are committed by persons at a period of life 
" when the faculties are most developed, and the passions most strong." 

But let us first compare the record as taken from our Penitentiary with 
the French table, and we will find with us, 19-20 offenders under 21 years 
of age, or about 1 in 5. In France we find 1 in 6. We have with us 
offenders between 21 and 30 years of age, 35-20, or nearly 1 to 3. In 
France we find 33-33, or 1 in 3. With us there are offenders between 30 
and 40 years old, 22-40, or something more than 1 in 4. In France, 
25100, or 1 in 4. With us 12-00 are between 40 and 50, or nearly 1 in 8. 
In France, 12-50, or just 1 in 8. 

^ 28. If with the French and our tables, we now compare the table (as 
above given) for the Northern States, we shall find a considerable differ- 
ence in the first proportion stated, that is to say, of persons under 20 and 
21, and this of course affects the ratio of the next proportion, viz.; the 
ages between 30 and 40. In the American table, we find that the age 
taken is 20 years, and in our Penitentiary and France it is 21 years. By 
the first we find, that offenders in the States mentioned, under 20 years 
old, are as 1 in 10, and between 20 and 30, as 1 in 2, whilst with us and 
in France, offenders under 21 are as 1 in 5, and between 21 and 30, as 
1 in 3. 

In commenting on this difference, as between the French and the Ame- 
rican tables, which they exhibit, Beaumont and De Tocqueville, at p. 302, 
vol. ii. of their work, say that " it is the displacing of a year which 
causes the difference observable ; a difference only apparent." 

If this be so, there is indeed a very sui'prising coincidence in these 
results. Even if they be wrong in this, still there remain many striking 
features of similarity. 

^ 29. When we bring the English tables (above given) into comparison 
with the others, a remarkable difference is observable, to the advantage 
of the French and our own people. 

We find from one of the above tables, taken from English authority, 
that out of every 100 offenders, there are 40-63, or about 1 to every 2^ 
under 21 years of age. Of these, 1-58 were under 12 years, and 9-92, 
or nearly 1 in 10, between 12 and 18. With ns there are about 1 in 5 
only under 21; 5'80, or about 1 in 20, between 15 and 18, and none 
under 15 years old. 

We have heard much about the number of "juvenile delinquents" in Eng- 
land, but a comparison of their criminal statistics with other countries 
exhibits this in so prominent a manner, as to sadden and shock-^as to excite 
the wondering thought, of how it is possible, that a hard-thinking, practi- 
cal, unimpassioned people like the English, in the face of the stubborn and 
alarming evidence, which this and other features of their criminal statistics 



APPENDIX. 477 

(such as the large number of awfully brutal male offenders, the great 
proportion of female criminals, the deep depravity and fiendish cruelty 
of some of them) exhibit, as to the .degree and extent of their national 
immorality, can " thank God that they are not as other men," or even as 
the poor slaveholder, and can warn unhappy slaveholders (as does one of 
their greatest men. Earl CarHsle, in his preface to 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'), 
not " to lay the unction to their souls, that the common run of mechanics 
and laborers in England are on a level of suffering and degradation with 
the slave on a rice swamp in Carolina, or at a sugar-crop time in Lou- 
isiana, &c." 

. One would think that, instead of wasting their energies in sympathy 
for people who are so much less immoral, brutal, and depraved than 
themselves, and leaving such to deal with their national ills as they best 
can, they would bring all their resources to bear upon the reform of those 
social evils in their own system, which, in the voices of the weak and 
helpless, are crying to Heaven for redress — that they would give all that 
they can spare of what Lord Carlisle calls "the warmth of sympathy 
and ardor of humanity " to stay the bloody hands of their starving and 
brutal "common run" of adult male criminals; and- especially to hold 
them up from injuries to helpless women and infants — to save from 
famine and cruelty, crime and its consequences, the miserable little pau- 
per children who swarm throughout the kingdom, and to turn back or 
away, from an earthly hell of want, and crime, and degradation, the 
broad and deep stream of mothers and wives, sisters and daughters, Avhich 
has been so long pouring into that dread abysm in England. 

g 30. So far as the statistics which I present are significant, there is 
no evidence afforded, by the record of trials before me, that the influence 
of marriage has the effect of lessening crime. 

It will be observed that, in the cases referred to, in every 100 offenders 
sixty-six were married and thirty-three were unmarried. This would 
seem rather to encourage the idea that crimes with us are more frequent 
among married than among single persons. But this would not be just. 
1 have thought there was some cause to disturb the accuracy of the 
report in this particular. The judge was compelled, in many instances, 
when the prisoner was a stranger in the community, to rely upon him for 
this information ; and when he had been convicted, there was always a 
strong motive to represent himself as a man of family, so as to appeal 
thereby to the sympathy of the Court when sentence should be pro- 
nounced. In this way, wrong statements have sometimes been made, as 
I have reason to believe. 

The record from our penitentiary shows, that considerably the larger 
proportion of convicts are unmarried. This may be relied on, without 
doubt. 

Other reports, from other prisons in the United States, show the fact, 
that the larger proportion of convicts are unmarried. The whole going 
to prove that the sacred influence of woman in our country is, to a cer- 
tain extent, operating, wherever it can be exerted in the family circle, to 
lessen vice and elevate the moral character of the other sex. 

I will add, too, in proof of this, that in some prisons, where pains 
have been taken to obtain this information, it has been ascertained that 
a large proportion of convicts had lost their parents (the mother's influ- 
ence was, without doubt, the chief loss) while yet in tender years. See, 
for example. Letter from Mr. Barrett (chaplain, etc.) to Beaumont and 
De Tocqueville. — Systeme Penitentiaire, p. 231, Vol. II. 



478 APPENDIX. 

I 31. I next approach the subject of most interest, perhaps, connected 
with this report: viz., the influence of education upon crime. 

It must be confessed, that criminal records, in this regard, do not afford 
that plain and simple testimony to the fact that ignorance and vice go 
hand in hand together, which is expected by the intelligent thinker who 
for the first time examines the subject. The true explanation is, that 
what is called education — that is to say, teaching men to read and write, 
and cast up accounts, — does not, as all experience shows, prevent men 
from committing crime. These capacities, in fact, enlarge the field of 
operations by creating additional resources, hold out new temptations 
and inducements to unprincipled persons, and thus add sometimes to the 
stock of crimes. That sort of education which lessens crime must be of 
a higher character — must, while it trains the intellect, also discipline the 
aff"ections, and restrain and direct the passions. Hence it is, that we find, 
in the list of criminals, so many offenders who can read and write very 
well, and yet so few who are highly educated. The latter class of per- 
sons are almost always (certainly in our country) among those whose 
religious and moral training have been cared for by their parents, or 
others, as part of their education. 

On this subject, the report which I have presented from this district 
shows, that in every 100 persons tried, there are 30-72 who could not 
both read and write, 51 who could read and write badly and imperfectly, 
16-34 who could read and write very well, and only 1-92 who were good 
scholars. 

The record from our penitentiary presents us with the following result: 

Prisoners who cannot both read and write, in every 100... 35-20 

Prisoners who can read and write badly 16 00 

Prisoners who can read and write imiDerfectly 44-00 

Prisoners who have received a liberal education 4-80 



100-00 



It is evident, from the above, that the capacity to read and write in 
on.r State, as in other places, is not evidence of that sort of education 
which diminishes crime. 

Similar observations have been made as to other of the United States. 
For example, we find Beaumont and De Tocqueville saying, at p. 302, 
Vol. I.: Par. Ed. 1836, of their work, when speaking of this subject in 
the United States, " It may seem that a State having every vent for its 
industry and its agriculture will commit less crime than another, which, 
equally enjoying these advantages, does not equally enjoy the advan- 
tages of intelligence and enlightenment. Nevertheless, we do not thinJc 
that you can attribute the diminution of crime in the North to instruction, 
because, in Connecticut, where there is far more instruction than in New 
York, crime increases with extreme rapidity ; and if one cannot accuse 
knowledge as the cause of this, one is obliged to acknowledge that it is 
not a preventive." 

The instruction here referred to, as the basis of these conclusions, is 
instruction in the lower branches of education only. 

In France, the tables of M. Guerry, already referred to, show, as, in 
a previous number, I have suggested, that crimes against the person are 
most frequent in the provinces where the people are well instructed ; and 
that, as for crimes against property, it is almost invariably those depart- 
ments that are the best mformed which are the most criminal. 



APPENDIX. 479 

Here, again, the test of instruction was "the list of those returned to 
the niinister of war, at the period of conscription, as able to read and 
write." 

Mr. Rawson, Secretary of the Statistical Society of London, has found 
that, of every 100 offenders in England and Wales, 35-4 could neither 
read nor write, 54-2 could read and write imperfectly, 10 could read and 
write well, and only 4-10, or J per cent,, had received a liberal 
education. 

In Scotland, out of 8907 offenders, 20-2 per cent, could neither read 
nor write, 59-2 could read and write imperfectly, 18-2 could read and 
write well, and 2-4 had received a liberal education. 

The reader will perceive that this report of Mr. Rawson also sustains 
and confirms what has been above said and shown in relation to this 
subject. 

Let not any good citizen be startled by these considerations, and dis- 
couraged in his strong desire to promote the cause of education — the 
general diffusion of elementary learning among the people. Rather let 
all good citizens co-operate to lay down this basis as one which is abso- 
lutely necessary for the great superstructure of moral and religious 
truths which should constitute our civilization. 

In such a social edifice, erected on such a foundation, crime can find 
no fit abode. But the rude foundation of elementary knowledge, instead 
of excluding, may but give shelter to unclean things. 

Messieurs Beaumont and Be Tocqueville, though somewhat puzzled 
by the conclusions to which they were brought by the facts which 
they furnished, yet do not doubt the happy influence upon man of 
proper education; and they take occasion to say that "instruction, 
wherever it has no distinct groundwork in religious faith, creates a crowd 
of new wants, which, if not satisfied, urge those who experience them 
into crime. It multiplies social ties ; it is the soul of commerce, and of 
industry ; it creates thus among men a thousand occasions of fraud, or 
bad faith, which are not found among an ignorant and a rustic people. 
In this way, it is natural that it should rather augment than diminish 
the number of crimes. This point, indeed, now-a-days, seems generally 
conceded ; for in Europe it has been observed that crimes are on the 
increase, for the most part, in those countries where instruction is most 
general. However, on this occasion, we express our opinion entirely in 
favor of education. To us, its advantages appear infinitely superior to 
its inconveniences. It develops the arts, and sustains all the industries. 
It fosters, thus, the moral force and the physical well-being of the 
people. The passions which it excites, fatal to society Avhen things go 
wrong, become prolific of advantages when they are able to attain the 
prize at which they aim. Thus, instruction, it is true, opens up sonie 
sources of corruption among men, but it is it, also, which obtains for the 
people most wealth and most prosperity. To a nation surrounded by 
enlightened neighbors, it is not only a luxury, but it is a political neces- 
sity." — Note, Stur V instruction aux Etats Unis, piece 5. 

On this subject, Sir H. L. Bulwer, remarking on the similar facts to 
those which we have been observing, says, very happily, "In giving 
instruction, Ave create a power which, if left to itself, may produce more 
good than evil — which will always produce good with evil, but which it 
is still our duty to govern and direct, in order to produce as much good, 



480 APPENDIX. 

as little evil, as possible; and if we wish to make ourselves sure of its 
results — if we wish from afar to see, to regulate, and to rejoice in its 
effects, we must not oxxlj fill the mind — we must form the character; we 
must not only give ideas — we must give habits," etc. 

These are very important facts for the consideration of our people. 
Important, not only because that this education of the heart, as well as 
the intellect, is of so much influence in lessening crime and immorality, 
but important, also, because, with us, as citizens of a republic, it is (what 
Beaumont aud De Tocqueville suggest the education of the mind may be, 
in some other States) a "political necessity." 

On a pure and intelligent franchise must rest all free institutions. It 
cannot be thus pure and intelligent without the education of the affec- 
tions and passions, as well as of the minds, of those who exercise it. 
Without such education, the people must be more or less at the mercy of 
demagogues and time-serving politicians — of political quacks and impos- 
tors. In this view it was, that Chief Justice Marshall pi-oclaimed, that 
"virtue and intelligence are the foundation of our liberty." 

Would that every American citizen would reject the vain and braggart 
thought, that our own country has already solved the problem of man's 
competency for self-government ; and might realize the great truth in his 
heart of hearts, that virtuous education, and it only, under God, affords 
the key to the solution of this mighty problem ! 



B. 

His Excellency, H. V. Johnson, Governor, ^-c. 

I 1. Sir. — While one of the Judges presiding in the Superior Courts 
of our State, I addressed to the predecessor of your Excellency, several 
numbers which related to the Statistics of Crime, as collected from judicial 
proceedings, in the Middle District, as well as from the records of our 
Penitentiary. 

In consequence of the absorbing interest which the political excitement 
of the past Summer and Autumn was creating in the public mind, as well 
as in consideration of my own pressing engagements. I paused in the 
course of publication which I was giving to a consideration of this subject. 

In the hope that it may not be without some service, I now resume that 
subject, and continue it in the shape first given to it, viz. : an unofficial 
report to the Governor. 

Since my last communication, I have obtained Statistics of Crime in 
Great Britain and France, so recent as the year 1851 ; and thus I am 
enabled to compare the state of crime in those countries at this late date, 
with what our records furnish about the same time. 

I 2. From the " Companion to the Year Book of General Information," 
published in London in the year 1853, I am enabled to furnish the follow- 
ing report : 

Number of persons committed or bailed in England and Wales in the 
year 1851, 27,960. 



APPENDIX. 481 

Of these there were : 

Offences against the person 2,218 

" property 2,060 

•' " accompanied with violence ... 21,906 

Malicious offences against property 305 

Forgery, and offences against currency 808 

Other offences 663 

27,960 

Offences committed by males 22,391 

" " females 5,569 



27,960 



§ 3. Number of committals, &c., during the same year, in Scotland, 
4,001. 

Of these there are : 

Offences against the person 981 

" property, with violence 665 

" " without violence 1,923 

Malicious offences against property 054 

Forgery, and crimes against currency 126 

Other offences 252 

4,001 

§4. Offences committed by males 2,892 

" *' females 1,109 

4,001 

^ 5. Offenders under 16 years of age 509 

Offenders who could neither read nor write 830 

" *' read and write imperfectly 2,378 

" " " well 716 

*' of superior education 77 



4,001 



^ 6. As verifying previous observations made by me on this subject, I 
desire to call the attention of your Excellency to the fact, that in England 
and Wales, as in Scotland, a very gi-eat disproportion exists between 
crimes against the person and against property — the latter predominating 
in a remarkable degree. It will be remembered, possibly, that we find in 
our State, crimes against the person to be about 48 in every 100, those 
against property about 38 in 100, and those against society about 14 in 
every 100. 

The great number of crimes against property of an atrocious character, 
which are almost all those accompanied by violence, (chiefly burglaries 
and robberies no doubt), thus shown to have been committed in England 
and Wales in 1851, also verifies an observation previously made by me, 
viz. : that criminals in these countries appear to be rendered depraved 
and desperate by want, to an extent unknown among us. 

41 2f 



482 APPENDIX. 

2 7. Let us now contrast some of the tables which we may frame from 
this report of crime in Great Britain, with similar details as furnished by 
me from the records of our State, 

1. It will be observed that the above report shows, that of the crimes 
committed in England and Wales, 24, or about 1 in 4, are committed by 
women ; and in Scotland, 38, or about 1 in every 2f are committed by 
women. 

Now it will be found by the report which I furnish, that there are with 
us to 1 crime perpetrated by women, more than 13 crimes committed 

by men. 

2 8. 2. We find in Scotland, in 1851, that, of 4001 committed or bailed, 
in every 100 offenders there were less than 16 years old, 12-50, or just 

1 in 8. 

The record from our Penitentiary shows about 1 in 20 under 18, and 
none under 15 years of age. 

2 9. 3. We find also that in Scotland, during this year, there w^ere of 
persons committed or bailed : 

In every 100 who could not read or write 20 

" " read or wi-ite imperfectly 60 

<« <' " well 18 

«' <' were superior scholars ..vj^ 2 

100 

It is curious to see how nearly this table agrees with that furnished by 
Mr. Rawson from the criminal records of Scotland some years since, and 
already quoted by me. In that it appeared, that there were offenders: 

In every 100 who could neither read nor write 20-2 

" " read or wi'ite imperfectly 59-2 

<< << " very well 18-2 

<« " had received a liberal education 2-4 

100-0 

I have shown from the record furnished me, that in our Penitentiary 
in the past year, there were offenders : 

In every 100 who coWd not both read and write 35-20 

" " read and write badly and imperfectly.. 60-00 
" " had received a liberal education... 4-80 

100-00 

§ 10, I have but one comment to make on the comparison thus insti- 
tuted. It confirms what I have already suggested, of the difference 
between us and the people of England and Scotland in our social struc- 
ture, in comparative education, in the habits, and moral civilization of 
the masses, and in the working of our institutions ; and it should cause 
us to rejoice and be exceeding glad and thankful, that with all our faults 
as a people, we are yet spared from those degrading influences which 
bring woman down to that degree of awful depravity she has reached in 
England and Scotland, and which consigns so many of her little ones to 
an early hell of destitution and despair. 



APPENDIX. 483 

§ 11. I am indebted to the kindness of a friend in Paris, for a report 
made dm*ing the past year, to the Emperor of France hj Monsieur Abba- 
tucci, minister in the depaitment of justice, containing statistics of crime 
for the years 1850 and 1851. This enables me to compare some features 
of the state of crime in that Nation, with Avhat I have shown to have 
existed among us about the same period. 

§ 12, From this report we learn, that there were implicated before the 
Courts of Assize, in France, during the year 1850: 

Offenders against the person, 2808 ; or in every 100 39-00 

property, 4324 ; " '« 61-90 

In 1851 there were: 

Offenders against the person, 2773; or in every 100 39-30 

property, 4298 ; " " 60-70 



100-00 

§ 13. In these years there were accused before this tribunal : 

Of males, 5931 ; or in every 100 83-90 

Of females, 1140; " 16-10 



100-00 



§ 14. As I have shown by previous examination of the subj.ect, the 
whole number of crimes in France, as compared with those in England 
and Scotland, is small ; but it is still evident, and that from the report 
before me, that many atrocious offences abound in that country, such as 
are almost unknown in our State. For example, we find that the number 
of rapes and attempts to commit rape upon children, during the year 
1851, which were before the Courts of Assize, were no less than 615; 
being 11-60, or more than 1 in 10 in the whole number of crimes. 

This shocking offence is said by the report to have been steadily on the 
increase since 1825, and the minister suggests that more severe and 
stringent penalties may be required in order to protect society from this 
odious crime. 

Such an offence is almost unknown among us ; and, indeed, several of 
those which appear in the minister's report, are by no means common in 
our State. 

^15. We also ascertain from the above report, that of those criminals 
who were thus implicated before the Court of Assize in the year men- 
tioned, the proportion of women to men was about 1 to 6, a result cer- 
tainly better than we find in Great Britain, but still not so favorable as 
among ourselves. 

On the whole, however, the aggregate of criminal statistics for these 
two years, seems to indicate an improvement in France, since 1830, the 
period, of which, and previous to which, Messrs. Beaumont and De Tocque- 
ville, and Sir H. L, Bulwer and others, have given us reports, as I have 
shown. I am not surprised at this, in view of the care and pains which 
this report of the French minister shows to be taken by his government, 
for the purpose of ensuring a wise and accurate administration of criminal 
justice. I wish, indeed, that I had more time and room, to dwell upon 
some of these interesting features of the report. 

^16. To one other circumstance I call attention. It is this: In the 
3'ear 1851 there were in France 67 convictions in every 100 trials in the 



484 APPENDIX. 

Court of Assize, and 33 acquittals. And in the report submitted by me 
last Spring, it is curious to observe that in the Middle District, during 
the period of which report was made, embracing the year covered by the 
French Minister's statement, there were (leaving out fractions) about 68 
convictions, and 82 acquittals, in every 100 trials. 

These very striking coincidences of results, in the operation of laws, 
and of human nature, among communities of men, far distant from each, 
other, and differing in the elements of their social organization in so 
many respects, afford useful lessons to the legislator ; and are strongly 
suggestive of the fact that, by a careful generalization, such results may 
be deduced from the working of laws and constitutions, as will afford 
something like accurate guidance to efficient legislation, to judicious re- 
forms, and thus to wise and prosperous institutions. 



c. 

To His Excellency, H. V. Johnson, Governor, ^c. 

§1.1 now bring to the notice of your Excellency the state of crime 
among the blacks in the nine counties of the Middle Judicial District, in 
this State. 

I presume, that perhaps this district affords a very fair exponent of the 
state of crime among this class of our population throughout the whole 
State. In it, we have the second city, in point of population, in the State, 
with all its encouragements to cinme among these poople. In it, too, we 
have the large cotton-planter with his slaves aggregated in masses, and 
we have the small farmer of the piny woods, with his few slaves segre- 
gated, and living in neighborhoods sparsely populated. 

It is proper, too, that I should have mentioned, that I have taken great 
pains in collecting the information which I publish. I have not hastily 
received and adopted the statement of of&cers in the several counties, but 
have endeavored to procure the exercise of caution and care in the reports 
made to me by others. 

So far as capital cases were concerned, my task was easy ; for I had 
kept memoranda of offences committed by slaves, and which had been 
tried in the Superior Coui'ts of the district during the years 1850, 1851, 
and 1852 ; the period of time to which I had confined my attention when 
reporting the state of crime among white persons. As all other and minor 
offences are tried by other tribunals, of course, I have had to depend on 
these for information in relation to them ; but I think I have taken the 
proper steps to make it reliable. 

I have received from the Clerks of the several Superior Courts in the 
district, except Richmond county, certificates of the number of such 
offences committed in their respective counties. I have desired these 
officers to take their time, and use dihgence in procuring the necessary 
infoi-mation from the Justices of the peace in the county, and the result 
has been satisfactory. I excepted Richmond county, because I knew 
that in the city of Augusta more of such offences had been committed 
than elsewhere in the district, and I preferred not only to have the assist- 
ance of the Clerk and his deputy, together with the Sheriff, in procuring 



APPENDIX. 485 

this infurmation, but I was anxious also by personal application, to obtain 
a report from the Mayor of Augusta, and the Clerk of Council, of all vio- 
lations of public laws, which appeared on the police records of the city, 
as well as reports from the police officers in the city, and Justices of the 
peace in the county. In this way I think I have approximated accuracy 
in the details which I furnish. 1 add, that I have even asked for infox'- 
mation in relation to all criminal charges against slaves who may have 
been removed without prosecution (if any), and I have taken into the 
account the only case of this kind, which is reported, as having occurred 
in the district, within the period under consideration. 

In the statement which I so make, I present all the accusations against 
the blacks in the Superior, Inferior, Justices', and Police Courts of this 
district, for such violations of public laws as constitute crime in the eye 
of the penal law, and all charges of this sort which have been reported 
and have not been prosecuted. Thus it will be seen that I have not con- 
fined the statement alone to crimes which were prosecuted to conviction, but 
I present all accusations which have been reported, howevei' terminating. 

^ 2. Of such accusations, during the three years specified, in the nine 
counties of the Middle District, there appear to have been 215 against 
blacks, 170 of which were against slaves, and 45 against free persons of 
color. Of the 170, there were accusations against females 20, and of the 
45, there were against females 19, 

By the United States census returns for 1850, there was in these coun- 
ties a black population of 44,731 souls, of which 44J00 were slaves, and 
631 free persons of color. 

The following table will show the centesimal proportion of crimes con- 
tained in these accusations against the person, against society, and against 
property. I place gambling and harboring of slaves in the catalogue of 
crimes against society. 

§ 3. In every 100 accusations of all kinds against slaves, there are — 

Of crimes against the joerson 66-47 

" '« society 31-76 

•* ♦' property 1-77 

100-00 
I 4, In every 100 accusations of all kinds against free persons of color, 
there are — 

Of crimes against the person 75-55 

" «' society 15-56 

'* ** property 8-89 

100-00 
The following table will exhibit the centesimal proportion of these 
various accusations. 

§ 5, In evei-y 100 accusations against slaves, there are — 

Of murders 1'76 

rapes '58 

Assault with intent to kill *58 

Of larcenies 1'76 

gaming 30-58 

harboring slaves 1'21 

Assault and battery, or fighting 63-53 

100-00 

41* 



486 APPENDIX. 

§ 6. In every 100 accusations against free persons of color, there are — 

Of larcenies 8-89 

gambling 15-56 

assault and battery 75-55 



* 100 00 

I 7. Of the above accusations against slaves, there are 4-70 offences in 
every 100, which would constitute felonies at common law, or under our 
penal codes, that is to say, something less than one-twentieth of the 
whole. And of the accusations against free persons of color, there are 
in every 100, 8-89 which would be felonies, or about one-twelfth of the 
whole. 

§ 8. In every 100 accusations against slaves, there are — 

Charges against males 88-23 

" " females 11-77 

100-00 
§ 9. In every 100 accusations against free persons of color, there are — 

Offences charged against males 57-77 

" " " females 42-23 



100-00 

§ 10. As of the 44,731 persons who constitute the black population in 
this district, 44,100 are slaves, and 631 free persons of color, it results 
from what appears above, that during the years specified, there was an 
average of one accusation to about 723 of the slave population, and an 
average of one accusation to every 42 of the free blacks. 

§ 11. Before remarking further on these results, I desire to call the 
attention of your Excellency to some facts which may inspire confidence 
in the approach of something like general accuracy in these statistics of 
crime among the blacks. 

In view of the difficulty in procuring exact returns, because of the fact 
that many offences committed by slaves, which would amount to violation 
of our penal laws, if committed by whites, are punished by the master or 
his agent, and never appear on public records, nor can be reported by 
officers of justice; and also, that in serious cases the owner is sometimes 
urged by his interests to remove his slave from the State to avoid a pro-~ 
Becution, I know it is natural for many persons to suppose that any cal- 
culations on this subject must be more or less conjectural, and not to be 
relied on as statistics. The comparatively small number of crimes re- 
ported, and the extremely favorable character of the results derived from 
the report, may also weaken confidence or create surprise. 

§ 12. I wish it to be understood, that I do not pretend that the report 
which I make is exact ; I only claim for it, that it is not far from accu- 
rate, and that it is sufficiently so to allow of such cautious and guarded 
practical deductions, as will enable us to generalize conclusions with some 
degi'ee of confidence. 

I 13. To show that this observation is correct, I call attention to the 
following suggestions. Capital cases among slaves and free persons of 
color are by our laws tried by the Superior Coui-ts. It is not difficult to 
get the records of such trials. If any such cases occur in a district of 
nine counties in extent, and are not prosecuted, because of the slave's 
removal before arrest, it cannot be difficult for careful inquiry to ascer- 



APPENDIX. 487 

tain how many of such cases have occurred in three years. None of the 
causes above alluded to, as creating obstructions in the way of reaching 
accurac}', as to other crimes committed by blacks, apply to such cases, 
and we may certainly rely with confidence upon the statements which I 
furnish as to these. 

Now it appears in |he report which I make, that in the whole district 
there have been only four capital cases in three years, among a popula- 
tion of 44,731 blacks. Three of these cases were tried before the Supe- 
rior Court, and in one the slave was removed befoi-e arrest. This gives 
us in a population of 44,731, just 1^ capital oflFences per year, or esti- 
mating the three years, one capital charge to every 33,548 of the black 
population, or taking the centesimal proportion, only 1-86 in every 100 
accusations. 

By looking to the report made by me of crimes committed in the middle 
district by whites, it will be seen that capital cases there are as 3-45 in 
every 100 accusations. A greater difference in favor of the blacks, than 
is indicated by the whole summary of crimes which I furnish, and which 
some may think too small. 

^14. Let us, in this connection, also examine the French Minister's 
report (referred to in my last number), of accusations before the Court 
of Assize in France for the year 1851. We know from previous exami- 
nation of the subject, that as compared with some other European States, 
the total number of crimes is small. And yet we find in the report to 
which I have referred, that of 5,287 accusations in 1851, there are of 
assassinations and murders, 451; poisoning, 38; infanticide, 164, and 
rapes on adults and children, 857; in all amounting to 1510, or some- 
thing more than one-fourth of the whole, or 28.56 in every 100 accu- 
sations. 

When with this we contrast the number of capital cases, viz. : murders, 
assaults with intent to kill, and rapes, appearing in my report of crimes 
among the blacks, and as to which the report is without doubt accurate, 
the difference in favor of our blacks is most surprising, and strongly 
tending, I think, to show that the report as to numbers, however favo- 
rable, may be not far from correct. 

^15. In still further confirmation, I will mention that in pursuit of 
information relating to other subjects connected with the institution of 
slavery, in the coui'se of the past year, I addressed circular letters to 
planters and slave owners, in the several counties of this District, and 
while doing so concluded among my questions to embrace the following: 
" Have any of your negroes committed any such crimes as murders, man- 
slaughter, mayhem, rape, or any other crime against the person in the 
last ten years? Have any of them committed burglary, robbery, larceny, 
or theft, or any such crime against property in the last ten years ? Have 
any of them in that time committed any act which would have sent him 
or her to the Penitentiary if he or she had been a free white citizen ? If 
any of your slaves have been so charged, how many females were so 
accused ? Are petty thefts among themselves frequent with your negroes." 

At my request, most of the answers to my questions were verified by 
afiBdavit, and are before me in the solemn form of testimony, from some 
of our most respectable and intelligent citizens. 

§ IG. I now refer to the answers of 10 only of these gentlemen. I take 
this number for convenience, as the aggregate number of their slaves is 
1001. From the report of these gentlemen, it appears that among this 



488 APPENDIX. 

ntiraoer of their slaves, for ten years preceding the past year, 1853, there 
have been 1 case of burglary, 1 case of larceny from the house, 1 of 
simple larceny, and 1 of assault and batterj^ — in all 4. 

The largest of these slave owners (and one who has a large cotton pro- 
ducing interest, is an estimable and intelligent gentleman, and minister 
of the gospel), swears as follows: "I do not think any of my negroes 
could have been sent to the Penitentiary for any offence which they have 
committed since I owned them." 

Another, who says that he has never had any offence committed by his 
negroes which would have amounted to a felony if perpetrated by a white 
man, remarks that he has "heard of little pilfering among themselves, 
such as taking of fruits and watermelons, &c., never of clothing, or such 
property. I have never heard of anything very serious." 

Another, who reports 194 slaves, and is an educated gentleman residing 
among his people, and closely observing them, coincides with what is 
above stated, and of small and petty pilfering among themselves, says he 
has " heard of some four or five cases in the past year." 

All agree in the report, that petty thefts are not very numerous ; and 
one, a citizen of Tatnall county, when speaking to this point, " hits the 
nail on the head" roundly, by saying, "they have no need to steal, for 
they have plenty without stealing," 

All of which, it will be perceived, tends to confirm what I have other- 
wise shown of the comparative small number of crimes among our slaves, 
and the exceedingly small number of aggravated cases. 

^ n. To this I will append what Sir Charles Lyell says of the slaves 
on the plantation of James Hamilton Couper, Esq., in this State. 

" The most severe punishment required in the last forty years, for a 
body of 500 negroes at Hopeton, was for the theft of one negro from an- 
other. In that period, there has been no criminal act of the highest 
grade, for which a delinquent could be committed to the Penitentiary in 
Georgia, and there have been only 6 cases of assault and battery. The 
murder of a husband by a black woman whom he had beaten violently, 
is the greatest crime remembered in this part of Georgia, for a great 
length of time." — LyeWs Travels in the U. aS'., Vol. I., p. 266. 

I 18. On the whole, I think that after due consideration, it will be 
found that some reliance may be placed in the approximation to accuracy, 
which is assumed for this statement of crimes among the blacks. 

I 19. When we examine the tables which are submitted in this report 
of crimes among the blacks of the Middle Judicial District in our State, 
we cannot fail to be impressed with the considerable preponderance of 
crimes against the pei^son — a preponderance greater even than in case of 
free white offenders among us. But, if we look to the details, we will find 
that these offences against the person consist chiefly of fights, or assaults 
and batteries among themselves, and are not of a serious nature. These 
among the slaves constitute nearly two-thirds, and among the free persons 
of color, quite three-fourths of all the accusations. 

§ 20. The next most conspicuous offence is that of gaming, and for the 
cr.use of its prominence we may look to the influence of the town upon 
that class of population — all of the cases reported, save one, coming 
from the city of Augusta. The crime of larceny stands next most promi- 
nent in the list, and is almost entirely confined to free persons of color; 
with whom it constitutes about one-twelfth of all accusations ; whilst with 
the slaves it amounts to 1-76 only, in every 100; or considerably les3 



APPENDIX. 489 

than one-fiftieth of the whole. A circumstance very significant as to the 
morals between the two classes of blacks. It is a circumstance, too, per- 
haps, not altogether insignificant as to the fact (inasmuch as these people 
among us, as the general rule, are notoriously idle, improvident, and 
destitute) that poverty and want are prolific parents of theft. Thus can 
be readily realized the true philosophy contained in that homely observa- 
tion of the plain planter, which I have mentioned, viz.: "they (his 
slaves) have no occasion to steal, because they have plenty without 
stealing." 

^ 21. It will be seen that two still more striking facts indicate the 
difference between the moral and physical well-being of the slave and 
free person of color, which are these : 

1. The number of accusations against slaves are 1 to every 723 of the 
slave population ; and among free persons of color, are as 1 to every 42. 
The accusations against male slaves are as about 88 in every 100, and 
against females as 12 in 100, whilst against male free persons of color 
they are as about 58 in 100, and against females as 42 in every 100. 

It will be remembered, perhaps, that in the whole District the number 
of accusations against female slaves was, in three years, 20 only, out of 
a population of 44,100 slaves — a less number than against white females 
(greater in proportion to the whole number of slaves accused), though 
the slave women are considerably more numerous than the white women, 
whilst the number of accusations for the same time against free women 
of color, was 19 out of a free colored population of 631. This circum- 
stance bears evidence of a degradation, not to be found among any other 
class in our country — a degradation suggestive of reflections which are 
of great and increasing practical importance. I would call it evidence 
of a degradation loAver even than woman seems to have reached in Eng- 
land and Scotland, were it not that among the accusations against these 
free persons of color, there appeared none of those brutal and revolting 
offences so often perpetrated by abandoned women in Great Britain, and 
but few cases comparatively of theft — to which crime, destitution, and 
starvation in that country, drive so many of these unfortunates. 

On the subject of the difference in the number of crimes committed by 
slaves and free persons of color, Beaumont and De Tocqueville say, "that 
one strongly deceives himself if he believes that negroes are kept from 
crime by giving them liberty ; experience on the contrary has discovered, 
that in the South the number of crimes is very much greater among the 
free negroes than among the slaves." — Systeme Penitentiare, Tom. I., p. 
299. As it was then, so it is still, and must continue whilst the same 
causes operate. 

Again, the same authors say, that the proportion of women in the 
prisons of the Union become more considerable, according as we descend 
into those States where the negroes are more numerous, because negro 
women commit infinitely more crimes than the white women, &c. — Ibid., 
Tom I., 272. 

Here the reference is to negro women who are free, and this appears 
from a subsequent note on the next page, as well as from portions of the 
text, other than that I have quoted. 

^ 22, I have already remarked upon the exceedingly small number of 
capital cases among our blacks; and I now call attention to the few cases 
which would have been considered felonies if committed by free whites 
(few in comparison to the small aggregate total, appearing in this report). 



490 APPENDIX. 

and to the almost entire absence of those malignant, bloody, atrocious, 
or revengeful crimes which are to be found, and must, in the nature 
of things ever be found on the criminal calendar of every people, where 
the lower orders are beastly in habits, degraded in morals, suffering from 
want, hunger, cold, and squalor; or writhing under the iron heel of 
oppression. To the plain corollary, or consequence, I may refer, in 
conclusion. 

^ 23. As I have not before mentioned the fact, and it occurs to me just 
here, I desire to remark, that a very large proportion, indeed a very large 
majority of the assaults and batteries reported against the blacks, and as 
a consequence, a very large majority of all the crimes committed by them, 
were occasioned by the intoxication of one, or both of the parties — espe-. 
cially is this true, as to the free persons of color. I had no means of 
verifying this with entire accuracy, but judging from the cases on the 
police records, as the facts remain in the memory of the officers, this 
inference is plainly authorized. 

§ 24. I have time, in conclusion, to deduce only a few hasty general 
conclusions from the above statement of crime among the blacks, and 
especially among slaves. 

From all that is thus shown, it is apparent, that our negroes, (as per- 
haps Sir Charles Lyell suggests,) are kind, warm-hearted, and impulsive, 
and not a morose and malignant people. But it is also obvious, that other 
causes must rest at the foundation of these results ; for we find tliat 
among other people of cheerful temperaments, and kind affections, but 
differently situated, crimes, and atrocious crimes too, are found in a 
feai'ful ratio to the population. 

These causes, without doubt, we are authorized to infer are : 

1. A wholesome moral restraint, in which respect for the relation of 
man and wife and its incidents, is generally encouraged, sometimes en- 
forced by the owners of slaves in our country. To maintain which, these 
owners are in a high degree prompted by their interests, by the desire to 
obtain the services of healthy, and intelligent, and able-bodied servants, 
and to increase the stock of their property by the natural multiplication 
of their slaves. 

2. A general diffusion of practical and plain Christian and moral 
elementary principles among them. 

3. An abundant supply of food and clothing, as the general rule, which 
also the interest of the owner, if not his sense of duty, requires to be 
provided. 

4. Considerate legislation, which has reference to a system of re- 
straints (judicious and expedient, where such an institution is main- 
tained), on the one hand, and on the other, to justice and humanity. 

These are some of the reasons why we find, that this institution of 
slavery (whose uses were established by an inscrutable Providence, and 
designed to exist, despite the puny efforts and revilings of weak and igno- 
rant men, until His all-wise purposes shall be accomplished) when we 
v.^ould estimate its value with relation to that sum of human suffering 
and sin which go to make up crime, though unsightly and disagreeable, 
it may be, in some of its features, "wears yet a precious jewel in its 
head" — the almost priceless gem of comparative immunity from the 
curse of crime, and all that it entails upon a people. 



APPENDIX. 491 



^ 25. Extract from Cobb's Historical Sketch of Slavery. 

"The criminal statistics of the slaveholding and non-slaveholding 
States show, that the proportion of crime committed by negroes in the 
former, does not reach the ratio of this population as compared with the 
whites, while in the latter, the ratio is much greater. The same is true 
of the statistics of mortality and disease. The apparent disproportion 
in the former case is greater than the truth, as many petty crimes by 
slaves do not reach the courts ; and in the latter, it may be truly said 
that the Southern climate is more favorable to the health and longevity 
of the negro. But, making due allowances in both cases for these causes, 
it is still true that the negroes are less addicted to crime, and are more 
healthy and long-lived, in a state of slavery than freedom." 



D. 

? 1. By reference to ^15 of Appendix, C, it will be seen, that the 
author of that report there states, that, in pursuit of information relating 
to other subjects connected with slavery, and for the purpose of procuring 
statistics having reference to crimes in his district, he had addressed cir- 
cular letters to many planters and slave-owners in that district, asking 
for information in relation to the treatment of their slaves, and the state 
of crime among them ; and that he had received answers from these gen- 
tlemen, furnishing information on these subjects in reply to his questions. 
Judge Starnes's report contains no more of these answers than was of 
immediate service to him in preparing his criminal statistics. It occurred 
to me that there might be some information in these answers relating to 
the subject of slavery, and its incidents, which would be of service, 
if presented to the public in connection with the matters contained 
in the foregoing pages. I have accordingly obtained the originals of 
these letters, and propose to submit copies of a few of them, for the pur- 
pose of enabling the reader who has no experience in such matters, to 
ascertain something more of the moral character of our slaves in Geor- 
gia, of their comfort, and their treatment by owners. I have selected a 
few of these letters as specimens of the whole, because it would oc- 
cupy too much room to publish all. But these have been taken at ran- 
dom; and I pledge my faith that, in all important particulars, they coin- 
cide, or very nearly so, with those which are not published. 

§ 2. The following is a copy of Judge Starnes's letter, and of the ques- 
tions to which the other letters are replies : 

"1. How many Slaves do you own or superintend? How many Males, 
who are grown? How many Women? How many children under ten 
years old ? 

2. How much food do you give to each per day, or per week of seven 
days? How many pounds of meat, and what sort of meat, the year 
round, do you give them? Can you approximate the quantity in pounds 
of meal, or vegetables, such as potatoes, peas, turnips, etc., which you 
allow them per day? 



492 ~ APPENDIX. 

3. What sort of, and how many, suits of clothing do you give them a 
year? In the term clothing, I include hats, shoes, and blankets. 

4. What house-room do you allow them? What is the size of their 
rooms? How many, on an average, occupy a room ? Has each house 
or cabin a fire-place ? 

5. How much and what sort of fuel is allowed them in winter ? 

6. What provision do you make for the attendance of a physician upon 
the sick ? What time is allowed your lying-in women after child-birth ? 

7. Are the infant negroes all suckled by their mothers, and have their 
mothers a sufficient supply of breast-milk for them ? 

8. Do you allow milk to the young children generally ? How are the 
infants taken care of when their mothers are absent? 

9. Have you had a still-born child among your negroes in the last ten 
years ? if so, how many ? How many negro children have you, in that 
time, lost in the first, how many in the second, how many in the third years 
of their lives ? 

10. At what ages are the young negroes put out to work? and ^ /hat 
sort of labor are they first put ? 

11. How many aged and infirm negroes have you? What food and 
clothing do you allow them ? and what work require of them ? How are 
those who need attendance cared for and looked after ? How old is the 
oldest of your negroes? 

12. During what hours do your slaves labor, and what hours have they 
for rest ? 

13. How many lunatics have you on your place or places ? What food 
and clothing do you allow them, and how otherwise treat them ? 

14. Have any of your negroes committed any such crime as murder, 
manslaughter, mayhem, rape, or any other crime against the person, in 
the last ten j'^ears ? or have they been charged with any such offence ? if 
so, how many ? 

15. Have any of them committed burglary, robbery, larceny, or theft, 
or any such crime against property, in ten years ? if so, how many ? 
Have any of them, in that time, committed any acts which would have 
sent him or her to the penitentiary if he or she had been a free white 
citizen ? 

16. If any of your slaves have been so charged, have any of the 
females been so accused ? 

17. Are petty thefts among themselves frequent with your negroes? 

18. Have you had a case of suicide among your slaves in ten years? 
Did you ever know of a case of suicide by a slave ? if so, how many in 
your life, and how long have you lived in a slaveholding community? 

19. What religious opportunities do your slaves enjoy? Are any of 
them members of Christian churches ? 

20. Have you ever separated families by sale ? Do you make a prac- 
tice of doing so by purchase ? What is the general custom of the county 
in this respect ? 

Very respectfully, 
To . Yr. obdt. servt., etc." 

The following letter is from a citizen of Washington County : 

Davisboro, May 20th, 1863. 

§ 3. Dear Judge : — I furnish below such answers as I can make to 
your interrogatories. 

^ 4. To the 1st question I answer, I own and superintend 198 servants; 



APPENDIX. 493 

among them ai"e thirty-three gi'own women, twenty-six gii'ls from ten to 
eighteen years old, thirty-four girl children under ten years of age, 
thirty-six grown men, twenty-seven boys from ten to eighteen years of 
age, thirty boy children under ten, five old Avomen who are over-aged and 
infirm, five old men in the same condition, making ten thus situated, one 
who is maimed and lame, and one who is an idiot — both of the last are 
males. 

I 5. To the 2d question I answer, I give to all servants who are over 
ten years of age 12^ pounds of bacon per month of twenty-six days, and 
a peck of meal per week of seven days, each. To all children under ten 
yeax's I give 6^ pounds of meat per month, and half a peck of meal per 
week. The meat which I allow to the servants who labor, or are infirm, 
amounts to about half a pound per day, of shoulders or middlings, with 
about a pound and a half of meal, a peck (the allowance for a Aveek of 
seven days) weighing from eleven to fourteen pounds, and thus you have 
the pounds per day. I generally kill from ten to twelve beeves, in the 
ye?r s this I seldom or never weigh out to them, as it is given to them 
exi. . of their regular allowance, and is cut up and divided among them 
as equally as possible. As for vegetables, such as peas, potatoes, and 
turnips, I have the two latter planted in patches, and allow them to go 
and get what they desire : this is especially so of turnips. I have, some 
few times in my life, given them allowance in sweet potatoes, though 
generally I raise an abundance of them ; but when gathered and put up 
in hills, they are given out in families, and according to the size of the 
families ; sometimes they are allowed to go to the hills and get them as 
they wish As for peas, I make it no article of allowance — I plant them 
in all of the corn-fields, and the servants go and gather them as they 
wish. All of the servants, on each of the three plantations, are per- 
mitted to raise chickens, and have gardens, in which they raise such 
Yegetables as they choose to plant. 

It has been a custom with me for several years ]3ast, and which I still 
keep up, to give the servants on each of the plantations a barbacue, or 
dinner, so soon as they finish laying by the corn crop — this generally 
happens on or about the 4th of July. I most always attend them, or, in 
my absence, the overseers, to see that they have an abundance of provi- 
sions, such as beef, pork, mutton, and bacon, corn and wheat, bread and 
vegetables. 

§ 6. To the 3d, I answer, I give all servants two suits during the year, 
and frequently, to some, three. The suit for summer consists of a shirt 
and pantaloons, or, to women or girls, frocks, made of cotton osna- 
bergs, principall}' manufactured at home. In winter, I give them a shirt, 
pantaloons, and sack-coat, the filling of wool, the wai'p of factory 
thread. No. 5 or 6, and cloth wove at home. Mostly all the servants 
who work out have hats yearly, and all of them blankets every two years. 
They also have shoes every winter, and often some are allowed two pairs 
per winter. 

I 7 To the 4th, I answer, most of my servants' houses are built 18 by 
20 feet, and each family occupies a separate house — sometimes it consists 
of a man and his wife, and six or eight children ; and I suppose, if the 
average was made, it would not exceed more than five to the house. Some 
of the houses have sheds attached to the main building. All of the 
houses have at least one fire-place. The chimneys are built mostly of 

42 



494 xiPPENDIX. 

rock in the body, and brick funnel. Some few are built of timber for 
body of cliimney, and mud and sticks for the funneh 

§'8. To the 5th, I answer, I own a large body of timbered land; and, 
with exception of one of the plantations, the wood is near the servants' 
houses. The wood or fuel mostly used by servants for making their fires 
is pine, red oak, and hickory. During the winter months, wood is hauled 
to their houses from the new grounds which are being cleared up. I have 
never debarred my servants from getting any kind of wood, and in any 
quantity they pleased, 

I 9. To the 6th, I answer, whenever any of the servants are sick, it is 
reported either to the overseer or myself by one of their family, and we 
go to see them. If a simple case, we administer and prescribe, some- 
times bleeding, when necessary; but if the case requires the aid of a 
physician, he is sent for immediately, and one of the female relatives of 
the sick sent in to attend their wants ; and the overseer or myself see that 
the medicines are given in accordance with the prescriptions of the phy- 
sician. Where I have thought the case dangerous, and requii'ing my 
personal attention, I have sat up and attended the sick during the night. 
In all instances where the women are discovered to be in a child-bearing 
situation, they are taken into their houses and put to spinning, at least 
eight weeks before confinement, and remain in six weeks after the birth 
of a child. 

I 10. To the 7th, I answer, in all cases the women are allowed time 
for nursing their children. My rule has always been that the mother of 
an infant under four months is allowed to come in from work once be- 
tween breakfast and dinner, and once between dinner and night. I never 
but twice, in my recollection, had women that did not give a sufficient 
supply of milk for their children ; and in both of these instances I had 
the children frequently fed with cow's milk in suckling-bottles. 

I 11. To the 8th, I answer, my servant children under ten years of age 
are allowed, every morning during the summer months, to have milk, such 
as clabber, butter-milk, or sweet milk, from the dairy. I keep from two 
to three old servant women at each plantation, who take care of all chil- 
dren under ten years while their mothers are absent in the fields at 
work. 

I 12. To the 9th, I answer, Avithin the last ten years, on one of the 
plantations of which I have the management, so far as I now recollect, 
there have been four still-born children, from two women, each having 
two. Previous to that time, I do not remember any such occurrences. 

§ 13. To the 10th, I answer, when my little negroes arrive at the age 
of ten or eleven years, they are put to driving up the cows and calves, 
carrying water to the grown hands in the fields ; and some of the girl 
children, at those ages, are leai-ned to spin, and others are taken by the 
old men and women into the vegetable and potato patches, and learned to 
hoe. The first year after that time, they are gradually taken into the 
fields of corn and cotton with the other hands, two in one row, and 
learned to work, the older ones learning them — this is often by some 
relative of theirs. 

I 14. To the 11th, I answer, I have ten aged and infirm servants — five 
males and five females. They are fed and clothed in the same manner 
with other servants, that labor in the fields; receiving whatever clothing 
and food the others get, and at the same time. The old women take care 
of the children, the old men work in the gardens and patches about the 



APPENDIX. 495 

house and for theii' use — this they do as they choose. The oldest servant 
on the different plantations is about eighty-four years, and there are 
among the above two of about the same age, There are none of them 
yet but that can travel about, and take care of themselves pretty well. 

§ 15. To the 12th, I answer, my servants should get tc their work 
about sunrise, and work to my usual breakfast hour ; vvhich, in summer 
time, is between seven and eight o'clock. They then stop about one 
hour to eat, and at about half-past eleven to twelve they stop for dinner, 
and rest about two hours and a half; then work till sunset, or a little 
afterwai'ds. 

^16. To the 13th, I answer, I have but one idiot, and that a male, 
about twenty years of age. He receives his clothes and food as the other 
negroes, and often gets two suits to another's one. His mother takes 
care of him ; she is employed in spinning. He is kept with the old 
women and children, and does no labor but what he chooses. He fre- 
quently draws water and picks up wood for the other servants. All the 
servants appear to like him, and treat him with the greatest kindness. 

§ 17. To the 14th, I answer, I have never had any negro under my 
charge to commit murder, manslaughter, mayhem, or rape, so far as I 
have any knowledge of it ; nor have any of them been charged or ac- 
cused of such crimes. 

§ 18, To the 15th, I answer, that none of the negroes which I own or 
superintend have been charged or accused of burglai-y. They have fre- 
quently been accused of stealing from each other little things, and they 
have at times been detected and corrected. One of the negroes was 
charged with robbing a trunk of some large sum, amounting to five or 
six hundred dollars, and she was tried, convicted, and punished accord- 
ing to law ; but she was not entirely under my management at the time. 

^19. To the 16th, I answer, the negro who was tried and convicted of 
robbing the trunk before mentioned was a female, and was raised in a 
city, about her mistress' house, and was treated with the greatest kind- 
ness, and greatly indulged. 

§ 20. To the 17th I answer, I cannot say that so far as my knowledge 
extends, that petty thefts are very frequent among my own negroes ; but 
for the last two or three yeai's I have heard more of them and had to 
correct ofteuer for that cause than previously. Perhaps I have had du- 
ring the last year some four or five cases among all the servants, 

I 21. To the 18th I answer, within the last ten years I have not had a 
case of suicide among the negroes, nor did such a thing ever occur pre- 
vious to that time among any of the negroes which I own or control. I 
never knew of any cases of the sort, though I have heard possibly of three, 
I was born in a slaveholding State, and have resided all my life in a slave- 
holding community. ^ 

§ 22, To the 19th I answer, I have always permitted the negroes that 
I own or superintend the privilege of attending church every Sabbath, if 
they desired to do so. We have a church on one of the plantations, where 
til ere is preaching twice in the month. Most of the negroes attend. The 
larger portion of the older negroes are members of some Christian church, 
and they are allowed to hold prayer-meetings among themselves on the 
premises, 

g 23, To the 20th I answer, I never did sell a man from his wife, nor 
a woman from her husband ; nor did I ever purchase a servant from their 
families. The most of those that I have bought have been for the purpose 



496 APPENDIX. 

of putting them with their families ; nor do I believe it to be the general 
custom of the country to separate families by sales or purchase. 

I will add, that I always allow my negroes to make crops for them- 
selves, such as corn, cotton, &c. ; and that of the number I control, their 
crops amount yearly to the sum of eight hundred and one thousand dol- 
lars. I never allow them to go otf trading of nights and Sundays, but 
when they receive the money for their crops, they have the mules and 
wagons to take them to the village or store. The overseer accompanies 
them. They buy what they want, and bring it home. 
Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

John J. Long. 
Georgia, WasJiingion County : 
Before me came John J. Long, who certifies under oath that the fore- 
going statement is just and true, to the best of his knowledge and 
belief in the premises. Sworn and subscribed before me this May 
21, 1853. 

John J. Long. 
S. B. Ckafton, N. p. 

^ 24. The following letter is from a gentleman of Jefi^erson County, 
who was formerly in the British xlrmy, served with distinction as an offi- 
cer under Wellington in the Peninsula, and in the campaign which ter- 
minated at Waterloo, and has received from the Sovereign of Great Britain 
the usual decorative rewards in such cases, in the shape of medals, 
clasps, &c. : 

^ 25. Dear Sir : — I have received from you a paper containing twenty 
queries with regard to the treatment and condition of slaves. I would 
remark that I w^as born in a slaveholding community, which I left in 
early childhood for Europe, where I was educated and lived some years. 
I have, however, lived in Georgia for the last thirty j^ears, the last twenty- 
three of which 1 have been the owner and superintendent of slaves. 

I now proceed to answer the questions seriatim as far as my knowledge 
and experience enable me to do. 

I 26. 1st answer. Sixty-five, of which there are — 

Males, grown [i.e., about 16) 19 

Women . " " 21 

Children under ten 17 

" between 10 and 16 8 

65 
§ 27. 2d. Food. — They receive three pounds of bacon per week. When 
fresh meat is given, as occasionally in Avinter and spring, they receive 
more. One peck of corn-meal per week, besides which, potatoes are given 
occasionally and as long as they last. A piece of cow-penned land is sown 
in the fall in turnips, which they are permitted to use ad libitum. They 
all have gardens, in which they raise cabbage, &c. I have oft'ered to 
increase the allowance of meat, if they wished it, but have always been 
informed by them that they had enough. 

I 28. 3d. Clothing. — To each of the men and boys, a winter suit of 
factoi'y plains (without wool), consisting of a sack and pair of pantaloons ; 
a shirt, a hat, and pair of shoes. In the summer, the same, of lighter 
factory cloth, except the hat and shoes. 

To the women, in winter, of factory plains, a frock and petticoat ; a 



APPENDIX. 497 

Eliilt, pair of shoes, and head handkerchief. In the f-ummcr, the name 
of suiymer cloth, except the petticoat. All the above-meiitioiied clothing 
is given to tiiem made up. For the young children, their cloth is given 
to tlieir mothers. Each negro of every age receives a blanket every 
fcecond year. 

^ 2'J. 4th. Each family has a house 16 by 20 feet, with a fire-place. 
This they divide into two rooms. Some of the families have an additional 
house or room adjoining, in which the larger children sleep. 

§ 80. 5th. The woods are convenient to the quarters, where they 
procure whatever fuel they want to use. 

^ 31. 6th. Medical attendance. — The same physician that attends my 
own family. Lying-in women are allowed one month in all cases. If 
delicate, they are kept in from regular work longer. Sewing and other 
light work is given to them. 

^ '6'1. 7th, All infants are suckled by their mothers, who in almost all 
cases have a sufficient supply of breast-milk. 

^ 3o. 8th. The young children are allowed milk generally. There are 
three old women whose sole business is to take care of the children 
during their mothers' absence. Also, to attend the sick, receiving their 
instructions from myself or the overseer. 

^ 34. 9th. Still-fiorn children in the last ten years. — Ans., one. AVith 
respect to the proportion of deaths in the first, secoml, and third years, I 
am not able to answer, but believe it to be less than in any white popu- 
lation which I have known. In connection with this subject, I may re- 
mark that eleven years after the death of my father, the slaves that I 
inherited from him had more than doubled. 

^ 35. 10th. At about twelve years old, they begin to make themselves 
useful in the field as water-carriers to the laboring hands ; after which, 
with a light hoe, they are put to work with their parents, and are not 
tasked. 

§ 36. 11th. Aged and infirm. — Six. They have the same food, clothing, 
&c., that they always have had. As to work, three women attend, as I 
have said, on the sick and children. Of two old men, one is a carpenter, 
and does light work of that kind ; the other shells corn to send to mill, 
and attends about the stables. One woman, aged 85, the oldest person 
on the plantation, does nothing. 

^ 37. 12th. All tield-hands go out to work at good day-light. The plough- 
hauds come in at 12 o'clock, and stay in two hours. They then return 
to plough until near dusk. The hoe-hands work by task, which some 
finish between three and four o'clock. 

§ 38. 13th. One idiot, a woman of about 28. Food, clothing, &c., the 
same as the rest. She is able to take care of herself. Can understand 
everything she is told, and is perfectly harmless. 

^ 39. 14th. 1 have not known among my negroes of any instances of 
the crimes stated in this question. 

^ 40. 15th. No such cases have occurred. 

g 41. 16th. None. 

§ 42. 17th. Petty thefts among themselves. — I do not often hear com- 
plaints of such things. 

^ 43. 18th. Suicide. — I have never had such a case, nor have I ever 
heard of one. I have stated that I have lived in a slaveholding commu- 
nity the last thirty years, twenty-seven years as owner and manager of 
slaves. 

42* 2g 



498 APPENDIX. 

§ 44. 19th. They have free access to all opportunities of religious wor- 
ship in the neighborhood, with occasional meetings for that purpose on 
the plantation. Many of them are members of the Baptist, and some of 
the Methodist Church. 

§ 45. 20th. Separation of families by sale. — I never have either by sale 
or purchase. The practice in the county, I believe, is never to separate 
husband and wife, or young children (viz., under 12 years of age) from 
their parents. 

I am not aware that it is in my power to furnish you with any further 
information on the subject of your inquiries. 

Dear sir, yours respectfully, 

J. P. Gairdner. 

The next letter is from a citizen of Scriven County : 

§ 46. Dear Judge. — 1st. I own, and have under my control, 450 or 
more slaves — 100 grown males, 100 females, and 150 children ten years 
of age and under. 

§ 47. 2d. I give one peck of corn meal, or three pecks of sweet pota- 
toes, per week. I allow on the rice fields and in Whitfield County, Ga., 
half a pound of bacon per day. I allow molasses occasionally, gratis, on 
these places. In Scriven County, on my cotton plantation, I allow two 
pounds of bacon (if clear of bone) per week ; if bone in it the manager 
uses his judgment. I give in the summer season, meat one week and 
molasses the next, allowing two quarts of molasses per week. Before 
potatoes are housed, they dig and use as much as they choose. Peas and 
vegetables are given them without allowance, in their season. My negroes 
all have gardens, and raise cabbage, okra tomatoes, and all the common 
vegetables generally raised by the farmers. 

I 48. 3d. I give one suit of woollen clothes, one suit of osnaburgs, 
two cotton shirts, two flannel shirts or their equivalents, one pair of 
shoes, one straw hat for summer, and one wool hat, cap, or glazed hat 
for winter ; one blanket every third winter in the low country, every 
second in the up country. Every woman gets a blanket for every child 
born. Every child large enough to nurse gets his or her blanket, A 
mother with two children or more under this size, is entitled to an extra 
blanket. 

^ 49. 4th. I have been in the practice of building my negro houses 
twenty feet square. I am now building them twenty-four by twenty 
feet. Each house has a good fire-place. No room less than ten feet. On 
an average not more than two in a room. 

^ 50. 5th. They are allowed as much oak, hickory, black-jack, pine, 
&c., as they wish to use, 

^ 51. 6th. I employ a physician by the year for all my plantations, 
giving him so much per visit, and he is to be the judge when and how 
often he ought to see the sick. He is to visit each place twice a week, 
whether sent for or not. I allow my women in child-birth four weeks' 
attendance, and two weeks without steady work after they come out. 

^ 52. 7th. My women always suckle their own children, and I think 
each one could suckle two children as easily as one. I have twelve 
children on my cotton farm, born at six births. 

^ 53. 8th. Milk is always allowed my children. I have one of the most 
trusty women on each place to look after the small children and cook for 
them. They are never allowanced. Each infant has a nurse large enough 
to can-y it miles if necessary. 



APPENDIX. 499 

^ 54. 9th. I never had a still-born child among my negroes. I have 
on my cotton plantation one hundred and four children under thirteen 
years of age. Within the last thii-teen years I have lost twenty-two 
children. 

^ 55. 10th. The time at which my young negroes are put out to work 
depends more upon their size than age. None, however, are put out 
under nine years old. They are first put out with old negroes to aid 
them. 

^ 56. 11th. I have four or five old and infirm negroes that are attended 
to like my children. I make my old negroes stay with the children. 
They are allowanced and treated in the same way that my field hands 
are. The doctor attends them when sick the same as the others. I had 
a man who died last February, at least one hundred years old. I have 
more than half a dozen over eighty years old. 

^ 57. 12th. My hands labor not more than eight hours per day the 
year round, sometimes a little more, sometimes less, and always in day- 
light. 

^ 58. 13th. I have no idiots or lunatics on my place, and never had one. 

^ 59. 14th. I have had no negro accused of murder, manslaughter or 
any of the crimes you enumerate. 

^ 60. 15th. I never had a negro prosecuted for any ofi'ence. My 
negroes sometimes commit small thefts, such as stealing hogs, chickens, 
&c., and in almost every instance this is done from their master. I do 
not think any of my negroes could have been sent to the Penitentiary for 
any ofi'ence which they have committed since I owned them. 

§ 61. 17th. I have never known such a thing with my negroes as petty 
thefts among themselves. 

§ 62. 18th. When I was a boy I heard of a negro woman hanging her- 
self. This is the only case I ever knew. I was born in Georgia, and 
never lived out of the State. I am now fifty-seven years of age. 

§ 63. 19th. A missionary attends all my places. The negi'oes can 
attend church every Sabbath if they choose to do so. The minister 
pi'eaches on my place twice every month. I think about one hundred of 
my negroes are members of the Methodist and Baptist churches. The 
missionary has a class of small negroes on each plantation, which he 
catechises regularly once a week. 

§ 64. 20th. I never have, either by sale or purchase, separated fami- 
lies ; and it is not frequent in my knowledge that this is done. I sold 
one of my women a few days since, at her request, to go with her husband. 
I sold her, as I think, for considerably less than her worth, rather than 
have her and her husband separated. 

State of Georgia, Whitfield County : 

Before me, AYilliam Whitten, a Justice of the Peace, personally came 
P. L. Wade, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that the 
foregoing questions as stated are true as far as the knowldge of this 
deponent extends. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th 
day of July, 1853. 

William Whitten, J. P. 

Respectfully your friend, &c. 

P. L. Wade. 



500 APPENDIX. 

The following is from a successful planter in Richland County. 

^ 65. Deau Sir. — We own 150 slaves, old and young; more males than 
females, in the proportion of 10 to 9. About 20. 

§ 66. The working hands have four pounds best bacon per week, one 
peck meal, milk every other night in summer. I plant largely of nil 
kinds of vegetables, which they can get by asking. I have SAveet potatoes 
in abundance during six months of the year, when each hand has a choice 
of his or her full allowance of meal, or half a peck of meal and one peck 
of potatoes per week. I distribute molasses occasionally. 

^ 67. Old and young get regularly one woollen suit in the fall. In 
summer the men and boys get two homespun pants and two shirts. Tl)e 
women at the same time have two frocks and two petticoats. All have 
two pairs of shoes a year. Two hats — woollen and straw. The women 
get two headkerchiefs. Blankets are distributed when needed. 

^ 68. The children are suckled by their own mothers generally : when 
not capable I have another to take charge of the infant. The infants are 
suckled four times a day, not counting the time when the mother returns 
from her work, at dark, and before going out in the morning, 

§ 69. I have on my plantation a nui'sery for the negro children under 
ten years, under the charge of a good nurse, who takes care of the infants 
whilst their mothers are at work. I have found from experience that it 
is best for the children to remain with this nurse from the time they are 
weaned till they can be of service to their parents. This plan relieves 
the mother of much trouble and anxiety. The nurse gets every morning 
a certain quantity of meat, meal, potatoes, milk, sugar, or molasses. 

^ 70. I think we have lost one child in every four during sickness — 
caused genei*ally by carelessness of the mothers. Since the adoption of 
my plan of a nursery, few die after being weaned, compared to what 
died formerly, probably not more than one a year on the average — one 
or two. 

^71. I have four aged and infirm negroes. They receive the same 
quantity of necessaties they had in their better days. Nothing is par- 
ticularly required of them. The little they do is merely for exercise. 

^ 72. The children under ten years mind the smaller ones, and assist 
the stock-minder about the lots. After this age they find light work in 
and around the brick-yard. 

§ 73. We work from daybreak to sunset, stopping two and a half hours 
during that time for meals when at gang-work ; but when tasked the dis- 
posal of their meals is left to them. 

^ 7-i. Each family is provided with house room sufficient to accommo- 
date comfortably all its members. This is generally one large room with 
a fire-place, which they partition to suit , themselves. No particular 
quantity of fire-wood is given them ; suffice it to say they have an abund- 
ance the whole year with little trouble. The houses are visited regularly 
every Sunday morning by myself or overseer, to see that they are well 
swept ; and if a clear day, have their blankets and woollen clothes put in 
the sun. 

^ 75. I have on my place a hospital for the sick under the care of a 
nurse. I engage a physician by the year. The sick are furnished with 
fresh beef, tea, cofl'ee, sugar and molosses, according to their wants. 

§ 76. I have had the good fortune never to have had an idiot or a lunatic 
amona: the negroes. 



APPENDIX. 501 

^ 77. I recollect but one case of mayhem on my place. Murder r.nd 
other high crimes are. unheard of around me. Thefts and petit larceny 
among themselves are frequent. 

g 78. I have never had a case of suicide among my negroes ; but two 
or three cases of tlie kind have come to my knowledge as happening on 
other places. I will take occasion here to remark that I have never 
known a negro woman charged with any of the aljove crimes. 

g 79. Every Sunday I permit a certain number of my slaves to go to 
"town" to attend church. My intention is to build this year a church 
on my place, when a minister will be engaged to preach for them every 
Sunday. 

^ 80. I allow four weeks to my women lying-in after childbirth. 

I 81. My oldest negro is upwards of ninety years of age. 

\ 82. I have never separated families by sale or purchase. I have had 
occasion to buy many negroes, and my practice has invariably been to 
avoid separating them. Charles Dblaiqle. 

The following is from a citizen of Tatnall County : 

« Reidsville, April 15th, 1853. 

§83. Dear Sir: — I have sixteen negro slaves — five males that are 
field-hands, and three women — two of them child-bearing, the other aged ; 
and there are eight children, under ten years old. We give them as much 
food as they want and can eat, treating them as the white family in this 
respect — their food being prepared for them by the same co(jk which 
prepares the meals for the family, and they have three meals a day. The 
meat consists of bacon, beef, and mutton ; and the yard or kitchen ne- 
groes have sometimes poultry. For bread, chiefly Indian corn, some- 
times wheat bread. Sweet potatoes all the year; sometimes Irish pota- 
toes in summer. Sometimes rice, peas (the coav and crowder pea), beans, 
cabbages, turnips, etc. I cannot give the quantity in pounds, for we 
don't allowance — all having what they want. 

^ 84. We give them not less than three suits a year — a spring, a sum- 
mer, and a winter suit. Sometimes, if they wear them out, as some of 
the boys do, we give them more. The clothing consists of cotton in 
spring and summ'er, and a mixture of woollen and cotton in winter — all 
manufactured by ourselves. The men and boys have a hat a year, one 
pair of shoes to all, except to the little negroes, who are not exposed to 
the weather, and one blanket a year to each. 

§ 85. The infants are suckled by their mothers, who all have sufficient 
milk for them. They also have milk as often as they wish. The chil- 
dren have milk during the summer, as much as they wish. Our little 
negroes are so healthy, and have such good appetites, that, by the time 
they are weaned, they do well on other food, such as the older ones have. 
I have never had a still-born child on my place in my Ufe. I have never 
lost a child during the first, second, or third year. 

g 8G. I have not an infirm negro on the place. The oldest is about 
fifty-five, but healthy and vigorous. When they are not under the care 
of the mother, they are taken to the yard, and cared for by the cook. 
My slaves got up about daybreak, feed and water the horses, shell corn, 
etc., until breakfast, which they have by an hour by sun. They then go 
out to work until twelve o'clock, noon. Then they come in to dinner, 
and have two hours. They then go out to work until about sundown, 



5U2 APPENDIX. 

w; ?n they come home and get supper. Each family has its own house, 
abi'iU eighteen by fourteen feet. Not more than eight in one room, con- 
sisting of a mother and children, the oldest being about eight years of 
age. When her husband visits her (who belongs to another owner), nine 
occupy the house. 

§ 87. As much fuel as they wish is at the doors of the negroes, 
almost, and they use it as they wish. 

§ 88. I have never needed a physician for my negroes — indeed, I never 
needed a physician for my whites until last fall. I would send for a phy- 
sician for my slaves under the same circumstances as for my white 
family. 

^ 89. I have no idiot or lunatic on my place. 

I 90. I have never had any such charge made against my negroes, and 
they have never committed any such offence. 

I 91. They have not, in that time, committed any theft of which I 
have heard. 1 do not hear of petty thefts among themselves. 

§ 92. I have never had a case of suicide on my place, and never heard 
of one. I am upwards of thirty-six years old, and have always lived in 
a slaveholding community. 

§ 93. There is meeting at the Baptist church, about five miles from 
me, once a month. Two of my negroes are members of that church, and 
my slaves attend, more or less of them, on the Sabbath. They also at- 
tend worship at the Methodist meeting-house, near us, occasionally. 

^ 94. I never have separated families by sale, and I never have by 
purchase separated a family ; and the general custom of the country is 
to avoid this, I think. 

I know of no lunatic slaves in this county, or in Montgomery County. 

Very respectfully, etc., 

James Tillman. 

State of Georgia, Tattnall County : 

Personally appeared before me, James Tillman ; who, being sworn, 
saith that the answers above given are just and true, to the best of 
his knowledge, information, and belief. 

James Tillman, 

Sworn to before me, this, the 15th day of April, 1853. 

Samuel D. Surrency, J. P. 



The letter which follows is from a citizen of Emanuel County. 

" Swainsboro, April 17th, 1853. 

^ 95. Dear Sir: — I own forty slaves and superintend one. Ten are 
men, ten women, and there are just ten children under ten years of age. 

^ 96. My slaves have what they ask for, generally — bacon and pork, 
beef, and sometimes, though not often, mutton, poultry, (though seldom,) 
corn-bread, peas, hominy, and sometimes rice. They have three meals 
a day, and generally take what they think will be suflScient. I do not 
allowance. Their meals are provided for them by cooks. They have 
vegetables and fruit in summer, coUards, turnips, turnip-greens in win- 
ter, and plenty of milk in summer. I share, also, the molasses or syrup 
I make with them. 



APPENDIX. 503 

^ 97. I keep my negroes always well and comfortably clothed, accord- 
ing to the season. The general allowance of clothing is two summer 
suits, of cotton, and one winter suit, of cotton and wool; though Ave give 
extra clothing to them who may stand in need. They have hats and 
shoes provided them. There are nine feather beds among them, thirteen 
mattrasses, a sufficient number of domestic blankets, bed-quilts, etc. 

§ 98. The infants are suckled whenever the mother sees cause to 
suckle them, having free permission to leave their work for this purpose. 
The lying-in women are allowed a month, or more, according to their 
health after delivery. 

^ 99. In summer, milk is given to the young children ; and in winter, 
if they are sickly, and need it. The children generally, when weaned, 
are sufficiently vigorous and healthy to eat other food and keep healthy. 
One woman, who was afflicted with asthma, has had one or two miscar- 
riages, and this is all of such cases as have occurred in ten years. I have 
lost no children in the first, second, or third year. 

^100. I have one aged and infirm negro of my own, and one of a de- 
ceased brother-in-law's, who made me his executor, and by his will regu- 
lated that this slave should be taken care of by me, and left a legacy to 
him sufficient for that purpose. The latter is about seventy, and mine 
is about sixty years old. I allow them the same food and clothing as the 
other negroes. I require no work. Mine does what he pleases ; the 
other does nothing for me. They are not infirm enough to require super- 
intendence. 

^ 101. The infants are brought into the yard when their mothers leave 
them, and are taken care of by the cooks or larger children. We do 
not put them to work until they are seven or eight years old, and then 
only to light work, such as picking cotton, in summer. When there is 
none of that to do, they do nothing. After ten, the boys are put to 
the plough, and the girls are kept at light work until they are fully ma- 
tured. Indeed, our women may be said to do light work at all times, and 
no more is required of them. 

^ 102. Our slaves rise about daylight, and get their breakfast before 
going out — some of them fii*st feeding the stock. At twelve o'clock they 
come into dinner, and stay until about one. In hot weather we allow 
them a longer time. They work until about dark. They then get sup- 
per, and have nothing more to do. 

I 103. They have cabins to each family, about eighteen by twenty feet 
in size, with a fire-place to each. They average about five or six to a 
house. 

^ 104. They have as much wood as they can consume. 

^ 105. I send for a physician whenever I think one of them needs it. 

g 106. I have no idiots or lunatics. 

I 107. There has been no such charge brought against any of my 
slaves in ten years. 

g 108. I have not heard frequent complaints of thefts among them- 
selves. I have myself missed some choice fruit in summer, and suspected 
them of taking it. Nothing worse has come to my knowledge. 

^ 109. I have never had a case of suicide among my negroes, and have 
never known of one anywhere. I have heard of one or two in my life. 
Being so contented, from having their wants supplied, I do not see any 
temptation for them to make away with themselves. I am fifty-nine 
years old, and have always lived in a slave community. 



604 APPENDIX. 

§ 110. There is a Methodist church within a mile of us, where there 
is preaching once a month, on Sabbath, and a Baptist church within two 
and a half miles, where there is Sabbath preaching once a month. Our 
slaves have the privilege of attending either or both of these places. Six 
or seven of them are members of the church. 

^111. The custom of the country is not to separate slaves by sale, as 
a general rule. If two persons own a husband and wife, and one of them 
moves away, the general custom is for one or the other to buy. 

Respectfully, etc., 

James Hicks. 

Personally appeared, James Hicks ; who, being sworn, saith that the 
above facts, as set forth in his letter, are correct, to the best of his 
knowledge and belief. 

James Hicks. 

Sworn to in open court, April 17th, 1863. 

Neal M'Leod, Clk. 

To satisfy you that our slaves are not desperately discontented with 
their condition, I will relate the following : 

Ihad a sister who died a little more than nine years ago, and left to 
me, by will, two slaves — a man, about thirty-one years old, and a woman, 
about twenty-four years of age. During her lifetime, she expressed a 
wish to me that these slaves should be set free, and desired me to have 
them freed, provided it could be done. I told her, before her death, to 
inform them that, if they would leave the State of Georgia, and go to 
some State where they could legally be emancipated, they should be 
free ; but if they chose to remain in Georgia, they must content them- 
selves to remain slaves. This information was communicated to the 
woman, and she chose to remain. I do not know that the man had the 
same oifer made to him, but believe he had. He is now in my service, 
and I could fearlessly challenge the world to produce from among white 
servants a more honest man, or one more devoted to the interests of his 
master. 

Yours respectfully, etc., 

James Hicks. 



E. 

Extract from the Constitution of the State of Georgia. 

Article IV., § 12. "Any person who shall maliciously dismember, or 
deprive a slave of life, shall suifer such punishment as would be inflicted 
in case the like offence had been committed on a free white person, and 
on the like proof, except in case of insurrection by such slave, and unless 
such deaths should happen by accident, in giving such slave moderate 
correction." 



APPENDIX; 605 



Extracts from \Zth Div. of the Penal Code of Georgia. 

<« [^ 11.] Any person, except the owner, overseer, or employer of a 
slave, who shall beat, whip, or wound such slave ; or any person who 
shall beat, whip, or wound a free person of color, without sufficient cause 
or provocation being first given by such slave or free person of color, 
may be indicted for a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished 
by fine, or imprisonment in the common jail of the County, or both, at 
the discretion of the court; and the owner of such slave or guardian of 
such free person of color, may, notwithstanding such conviction, recover, 
in a civil suit, damages for the injury done to such slave or free person 
of color." 

" [§ 12.] Any owner or employer of a slave or slaves, who shall cruelly 
treat such slave or slaves, by unnecessary and excessive whipping, by 
withholding proper food and sustenance, by requiring greater labor from 
such slave or slaves than he, she, or they are able to perform, or by not 
affording proper clothing, whereby the health of such slave or slaves may 
be injured and impaired, or cause or permit the same to be done, every 
such owner or employer shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con- 
viction, shall be punished by fine or imprisonment iu the common jail of 
the County, or both, at the discretion of the court." 



Extract from Act of May lOih, 1770. 

'^Punishment for making slaves labor on Sunday. — If any person shall 
on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, employ any slave in any 
, work or labor, (work of absolute necessity and the necessary occasions 
of the family only excepted.) every person so offending shall forfeit and 
pay the sum of ten shillings for every slave he, she, or they, shall so cause 
to work or labor.'' 



P. 

^ 1. The following table, which I take from the "Mortality Statistics" 
compiled from the Seventh Census of the United States by the Superin- 
tendent of the Census, and published by authority of the House of Rep- 
resentatives, seems to show that the number of slaves who die of old age 
in the United States is considerably greater than the number of free white 
citizens. 

By consulting it, and the population tables ; and taking the white popu- 
lation of the Union at 19,-553,068, and the slaves at 3,638,808 (which is 
what those tables authorize), it will be found that of the whole number 
of deaths from all causes, 1 in every 37-01 is a death from old age among 
the white population, whilst, in the whole number of deaths, 1 in every 
32-49 is a death from old age among the slaves. 

43 



506 



APPENDIX. 



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§ 2. For further information, see § 25 of App. C. 



APPENDIX. 



507 



G.- 

§ 1. The United States Census of 1850 shows that the number of paupers 
in the State of Georgia, at that time, was 954 — at a cost of $28,248, 
The population, as shown by the Census, was then 905,999. Accordingly 
there was only 1 pauper to every 949 of the inhabitants. The average 
charge for maintenance being to each inhabitant a small fraction over 3 
cents. If the slaves be excluded, the average charge to each tax payer 
is a small fraction over 5 cents. 

The text to which this note is annexed, shows that the number of 
paupers in Great Britain, in 1849, was 201,044, and the cost £5,395,022, 
or about $26,975,110. The population was then 20,936,468. Thus there 
was 1 pauper for every 23 of the inliabitants ; and there was an annual 
average charge upon each inhabitant for the maintenance of these 
paupers, of $1-28. 

g 2. Extract from Cobb's Historical Sketch of Slavery, p. ccxiv. 

*' Slavery is a protection from paxiperism, the bane for which the wisdom 
of civilized man has not yet prepared an antidote. In America, aiiiic- 
tion" (disease) "old age and idleness are the only sources of pauperism. 
"Where the laborers are slaves, the master is compelled by law to provide 
against the former, and is authorized to protect himself against the latter. 
The poor-house, therefore, is almost unknown." 



H. 

Statistical Table from the United States Census of 1840. 



States. 



Maine 

New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts... 

Vermont 

Connecticut 

Rhode Island,.., 

New York 

New Jersey 

Pennsylvania ... 

Delaware 

Maryland 

Virginia 

North Carolina . 
South Carolina . 

Georgia 

Ohio 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 



r-< P< 



500,438 
284,036 
729,030 
291,218 
301,856 
105,587 1 

,378,890; 
351,588 

,676,115 
58,56l| 
317,717 
740,968 
484,870 
259,084 
407,695 

,502,022 
690,253 
158,457 



537 
4861 

1,071 
398 
498 
203 

2,116 
369 

1,946 

52 

387 

1,052 
580 
376 
294 

1,195 
795 



1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
55!l 



950 
584 
662 
731 
606 
520 

1,108 
952 
861 

1,126 
821 
704 
835 
689 

1,387 

1,257 
742 

2,873 



* 2 
0-3 



1,355 

538 

8,669 

730 

8,159 

3,243 

50,031 

21,718 

37,952 

19,524 

151,515 

498,829 

268,549 

335,314 

283,697 

17,345 

189,575 

193,954 



94 

19 

200 

13 

44 

13 

194 

73 

187 

28 

141 

381 

221 

137 

134 

105 

180 

45 



in 14 
28 
43 
66 
" 185 
" 249 
'« 257 
" 293 
" 256 
" 697 
«' 1,074 
" 1,309 
" 1,215 
" 2,440 
" 2,117 
" 105 
" 1,053 
" 4,310 



508 APPENDIX. 



I. 



During tlie year 1854 I met with the following compilation 
of facts in one of the newspapers of the day. I do not now 
remember from which it was that I clipped it, and am sorry 
that I do not, as I would like to give it credit for the article. 
A large proportion of the facts are taken from Stephens' His- 
tory of Georgia, and as they are here put into a very compact 
form, a perusal of this statement may save the reader the 
necessity of turning to that work. 

" History of the Slave Trade in North and South America. 

Our attention has been attracted to the origin and subsequent progress 
of the African slave trade upon this continent, by an article which ap- 
peared some weeks ago in the New York Tribune. After reading that 
article, we turned to Stephens' History of Georgia, which contains an 
instructive chapter upon the same subject. From these two sources wo 
compile the following interesting facts, and commend them to the reader, 
both North and South, as worthy not only of perusal, but remembrance. 

The European traffic in negroes Avas fully established before the colo- 
nization of the United States, and had existed half a century before the 
discovery of America. "As early as 1441, Portuguese ships sailed as 
far South as Cape Blanco, in Africa, and returued with Moors — not 
negroes — and these Moors were treated as strangers of distinction, from 
whom important information could be obtained. And in 1443, Anthony 
Gonzales, who had brought them to Portugal, was commanded to restore 
them to their native homes; he did so, and the Moors gave him not only 
gold, but ' black Moors' with curled hair for their ransom. It was thus 
that negro slaves were introduced into Europe ; and negroes immediately 
became a lucrative traffic from the beginning, and ' abounded in the city 
of Seville before the enterprise of Columbus was conceived.' " 

The maritime adventurers of those days regarded the inhabitants of 
the countries they might discover, if infidels, as their slaves ; and conse- 
quently Indians from the West Indies and our Atlantic ports were im- 
ported into Spain and sold. Even Columbus sent 500 Indians to Spain, 
and ordered them to be sold at Seville. 

The English traffic in American slaves began in 1563, Sir John 
Hawkins, in the prosecution of a commercial enterprise, visited the coast 
of Africa, and took thence a cargo of natives, whom he sold in Ilayti. On 
his return to England, a public complaint was lodged against him, but he 
excused himself on the ground that he had ' taken these natives froni 
heathenish barbarism, and placed them under the blessed influences of 
Christianity.' The second voyage of Sir John, undertaken in 1567, was 
nnder the protection of Queen Elizabeth, she sharing in the profits of 
the advanture. 

The first attempt to engage in the slave trade by the American colonists, 
occurred in 1645, and was made by two Boston merchants, one of whom 
was a member of the church. We commend this historical fact to the 
abohtionists and disunionists in New England. The trade being profit- 



APPENDIX. 509 

able, Boston was the first to engage in it; slave labor becoming unprofit- 
able, Massachusetts ■was the first to abandon it. At one time, white 
persons — criminals and dissolute persons — were transported to the 
American colonies and sold into slavery. Finally, it became a regular 
business to seduce men and women to leave England, and to make slaves 
of them on their arrival here. So usual was this traffic in Englishmen, 
that the Scots who were taken in the field of Dunbar were sent into in- 
voluntary servitude in New England ; the royalist prisoners taken by 
Cromwell at the battle of Worcester, the leaders of the insurrection of 
Penruddock, were shipped to America as slaves. And, in 1685, 1000 of 
the gallant partisans of the Duke of Monmouth were transported to 
America, to supply hands to the colonial freeholders. In 1G88, persons 
coming into the colonies, who were not Christians in their native country, 
were subjected to slavery, even if converted to Christianity afterwards. 

Slavery was introduced into Virginia in 1620; into New England in 
1645; into Maryland in 1650; into South Carolina in 1671; and into 
Georgia in 1749. Slaves were first taken to Pennsylvania by William 
Penn, the founder of the State ; and Stephens tells us that, though he did 
somewhat to meliorate their condition afterwards, 'he died a slave- 
holder.' For sixteen years after the first settlement of Georgia, slaves 
were not allowed by the Trustees of the colony ; and it was not until after 
repeated applications from the most influential men in the province — 
among others, the Rev. George Whitefield, the celebrated Divine — that 
the prohibition was relaxed. Mr. Whitefield made a test of white and 
slave labor, on a plantation which he bought in Carolina, the result of 
which was to confirm him in the opinion, as he wrote the Trustees, 'that 
Georgia never can or will be a flourishing province without negroes are 
allowed.' Finally it was determined to admit slaves into Georgia, and 
a Committee in the British Parliament, at the head of which was placed 
the Earl of Shaftesbury, Avas appointed to prepare an act for that purpose. 
This Earl of Shaftesbury was, we presume, the ancestor of the present 
Earl of that name, who has made himself so conspicuous of late in his 
attentions to Mrs. Stowe, and in his intermeddling with American slavery 
which his progenitor introduced. 

In March, 1713, a contract was made between Spain and other 
powers, for furnishing slaves to the Spanish dominions in America. July, 
1718, this contract was transferred to England by the treaty of Utrecht, 
and thereby England obtained the privilege of filling the New World with 
negro slaves. No Frenchman, nor Spaniai"d, nor an}'^ other person might 
introduce a single slave into Spanish America, and England had the ex- 
clusive monopoly of the slave trade for the Gulf of Mexico on the Atlantic, 
all along the Pacific, and the English Colonies. These monopolizing 
privileges were enjoyed by a company — the Asciento Company — and 
Philip V. of Spain, took one quarter of the stock ; Queen Anne reserved 
one-fourth to herself, and the remaining half was divided among her 
favorites — thus the sovereigns of England and Spain became the largest 
slave merchants in the world. By the treaty assigning the contract, her 
Britannic Majesty undertook ' to bring into the West Indies of America, 
belonging to his Catholic (Spanish) Majesty, in the space of thirty years, 
144,000 negroes, at the rate of 4,800 each year.' These negroes cost 
nothing but trinkets and toys and refuse arms, and England gained by 
her total sale of slaves in America, under this contract, the caj^ital which 
built up and confirmed the British Empire in Hindostan. 

A little more than one hundred years ago, the British were the greatest 

43* 



510 APPENDIX. 

elave-traders in the world, and it was contended and promulgated in Eng- 
land by British merchants, that the American slave trade was the great 
pillar and support of the plantation trade in America : that if the slave 
trade should be thrown into the hands of her rivals, and the colonies de- 
pend upon white labor, they would soon be undone, or shake off their 
dependence on the British Crown, ' as white men cannot be obtained as 
cheaply as we have obtained Africans, Even were it possible for white 
men to answer the end of negroes in planting, we must drain our own 
country of husbandmen, mechanics, and manufacturers ; thus we might 
dread the prosperity of our colonies ; but while we supply them with 
negroes, we need have no such apprehensions.' 

It is estimated that over 300,000 negroes were imported from Africa to 
the English American colonies previous to 1776. llaynal puts the whole 
number taken by European nations from Africa before that year at 
9,000,000. Bancroft 'thinks the number imported into the Spanish, 
French, and English continental colonies, previous to the prohibition of 
the slave trade, was about 3,000,000. The gross returns to the English 
from the. whole traffic in negro slaves is estimated at four hundred 
millions of dollars !' 

It is mentioned as a noteworthy fact, 'that at one time or another, 
every Christian potentate and government has sanctioned the slave trade 
between Africa and America, save only the Pope of Home.' In 1787, 
the civilized world was engaged in the traffic. It was a lawful trade in 
Portugal, Spain, France, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden ; and in Eng- 
land and Scotland great and good men were ranked among its active or 
silent promoters. In this same year the convention for framing the Con- 
stitution of the United States prohibited the African slave trade after 
1808. The original proposition was to give Congress the power to abolish 
the traffic from and after the year 1800. Yet, when Gen. Pinckney, of South 
Carolina, moved to strike out 1800, and insert 1808 as the period forabo- 
/ishing the slave trade, the motion prevailed by all the New England States 
\roting for it, with only four slaves States, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, 
and Pennsylvania, voting against it. 

Stephens says : ' Begun, as the trade was, by Sir John Hawkins in 
1763, patronized by Queen Elizabeth, maintained by repeated acts of 
Parliament, and openly countenanced by the Dutch in their municipal, 
charter, and corporate societies, slavery was forced upon the American 
colonies. In nearly every instance, the earliest legislation in each colony 
was directed to putting down such a species of labor. Virginia early dis- 
couraged it, and during her colonial esistence, passed twenty-three acts 
imposing duties on slaves imported into the colony, thus virtually prohi- 
biting them ; and Madison truly said, that ' the British government con- 
stantly checked the attempts of Virginia to put a stop to this traffic' 
South Carolina soon passed a law prohibiting their further importation. 
It was rejected by the King in council, who declared the trade 'benefi- 
cial and necessary to the mother country.' Massachusetts, the first State 
in America which directly participated in the slave trade, imposed duties 
upon negroes imported; but as late as 1774, when the assembly of Mas- 
sachusetts passed an act to prevent the importation of negroes and others 
as slaves. Governor Hutchinson refused his assent, and dissolved the 
assembly; because to sanction it would have violated his instructions. 
The royal orders to Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, directed 
him not to give his assent to or pass any law imposing duties on negroes 
imported into New Hampshire. 



APPENDIX. 



511 



*But what could the remonstrances of colonies, or the labor of indi- 
vidual philanthropy accomplish, when kings and queens, and cabinets, 
and cities, and parliaments, and associations, for two hundred years, 
were the patrons and participants in this evil traffic?' 

The facts here collected are sufficient to show that Old England and 
New England acted a conspicuous part in the establishment of the slave 
trade, and the introduction of slaves into the United States; and that 
they never abandoned the trade or the labor of slaves until they ceased 
to be profitable. Whatever they did for the negro, was prompted by 
considerations of policy and not philanthropy — a fact which it seems to 
us ought to close their mouths forever on the subject of slavery." 



J. 



The following table, which has been compiled from the United States 
Census of 1850, will serve to give an idea of what the price of labor is in 
Georgia: — 



S o 


£5 


£3 


i% 




« 3 




.2.2 

«3 fl 




1' 




«2>. 


o o 

^ o 








>^2 


gfo 




o a) 

1:3 






1- 

a 


u to 


to 




&4 '^ 




-3-^ 




« 


* fl 


>>o 






S.2 


« "^ 


E:.2 


-a-^ 


«~ d 




n 














es d 


o 


03 ^< 

•a CO 

o 




to 

« S 




bc.::^ aj 


tr. ri 


fcc 


fcfl 


^.2--? 


tr/n 




«= fe -iJ 


a o 


CS -u 












^1 . 


^2 


^ 2 a 














<J 3 3 


.2 "-5 




$ cts. m. 


% cts. m. 


$ cts. m. 


$ cts. m. 


$ cts. m. 


$ Cts. 


m. 


9 40 


50 8 


71 5 


1 64 8 


1 55 1 


1 82 


4 



K. 



Extracts from Cobb's Historical Sketch of Slavery, pp. ccxiL, ccxvii. 

^ 1. " The work to which this sketch is an introduction is intended 
to exhibit the status of the slave in the United States; a repetition 
here upon these points would be inappropriate. That their bondage 
has been mild, is evidenced by their great and rapid increase. For about 
333,000 slaves imported, there are now more than 4,000,000. Their 



512 ' - APPENDIX. 



physical development is undoubtedly much superior to that of the negro 
in his native country. Their longevity is remarkable. Their mental de- 
velopment has advanced very considerably, still retaining, however, the 
negro characteristics, except in the case of the mulattoes, where the 
traits of the white parents are sometime developed. But above all, their 
moral improvement is most evident. Though still inclined to supersti- 
tion, they are frequently exemplary Christians, and generally inclined to 
be religious. An avowed infidel is a rara avis among the negroes. The 
statistics of the. different churches in the slaveholding States show a 
greater number of negroes converted and admitted into the church, than 
all the conversions which have crowned the missionary efforts of the 
world." 

§ 2. "As a social relation, negro slavery has its benefits and its evils. 
That the slave is incorporated into, and becomes a part of the family — 
that a tie is thus formed between the master and slave almost unknown 
to the relation of master and hireling — that in consequence even the 
young spendthrift experiences a pang in sundering a relation he has re- 
cognized from his infancy — that the old and infirm are thus cared for, 
and the young protected and reared, are indisputable facts. Interest 
joins with affection in promoting this unity of feeling. To the negro it 
insures food, fuel, and clothing, medical attendance, and in most cases 
religious instruction. The young child is seldom removed from the 
parent's protection ; and beyond doubt the institution prevents the sepa- 
ration of families to an extent unknown among the laboring poor of the 
world.* It provides him with a protector, whose interest and feeling 
combine in demanding such protection 

"In short, Southern slavery is a patriarchal social system. The 
master is the head of his family. Next to wife and children, he cares 
for his slaves. He avenges their injuries, protects their persons, pro- 
vides for their wants, and guides their labors. In return, he is revered, 
and held as a protector and master. Nine-tenths of the Southern masters 
would be defended by their slaves, at the peril of their own lives." 

* " On my father's plantation, an aged negro woman could call together 
more than one hundred of her lineal descendants. I saw this old negro 
dance at the wedding of her great granddaughter. She did no labor for 
my father for more than forty years before her death " 



THE END. 



3508 



I Jaa. 23 186 ■. 



>-■.,• 



■^ 



♦^ 11'"% 




